Heli-skiers safe after chopper crash

Again it was the snow that saved the group of four which included team leader and famous French heli-skier Sylvian Saudan and Romanian pilot H. Lucien. The four jumped onto the snow before the helicopter actually hit the ground and broke and escaped unhurt. Incidentally, this was third crash Saudan was involved in the Valley, having survived two plane crashes earlier — in 1992 and 1999.

“In our country, mountains have summer paths where cattle come to graze. We just followed that trail and reached safety,” Schlegel said. The trio reported at a CRPF camp at around 8.30 am today.

Pilot Lucien was left in the damaged helicopter at the accident site as he did not have skis. He was later airlifted to Srinagar by an IAF helicopter. The helicopter belonged to a private tour operator and was registered in the Philippines. Saudan, a regular visitor to Kashmir since 1976, said the helicopter was not equipped for fast landing.

“We are in good shape and will be skiing again here,” Saudan said. Tourism officials and several locals hugged the heli-skiers when they reached their hotel in Srinagar.