AT LEAST five people have been killed in a mid-air collision between a helicopter and plane over Italian Alps.
A tourist plane was involved in the crash close to the Rutor glacier in the Aosta Valley, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports. Mountain rescue workers found two survivors, a Swiss and a French citizen, according to news website TGCOM24. It is not clear whether those killed were on board the plane or helicopter.
Aerial pictures of the aftermath show rescuers around the wreckage of a helicopter which is partially submerged in deep snow.
Alpine rescue corps spokesman Walter Milan said the accident happened on Friday afternoon at an altitude of about 3,000 meters (9,800ft).
The helicopter was reportedly being used for heliskiing when it crashed.
The plane took off from the French ski resort village of Megeve, Italian media reports.
Rescue helicopters from Ivrea, Turin and Piedmont are on the scene.
