Three people dead and three others injured after tourist helicopter crashes in the Alps

The group comprised of four tourists, a mountain guide and the pilot.

A 15-year-old American teenager was among one of the three fatalities, alongside a man and woman whose identities have yet to be confirmed.

A 20-year-old Swiss man was flown to hospital with serious injuries after the helicopter slipped down a slope from the 3,668-meter-high mountain.

Air Glaciers, who owned the vehicle, told local media: “We are deeply shocked by this event.

“Our thoughts are with the families and relatives of the victims.”

Prosecutors are understood to be investigating the incident.

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Rescue helicopters were deployed to the scene where two people were rescued immediately and quickly taken to the hospital. A third was later found alive.

Their conditions are unknown.

Valais Police said in a statement: “The three other occupants of the aircraft were unfortunately found lifeless.”

They continued: “Having reached the summit of a mountain culminating at 3,668 metres above sea level, for a reason that the investigation will have to determine, the aircraft slid down the northern slope.”

The group were planning to go heli-skiing, which is off-trail skiing from the top of a mountain which can only be accessed via a helicopter, as opposed to a ski lift.

Seven helicopters were sent to the site as part of the rescue effort.

The was moderate wind in the mountains earlier in the day, according to the Swiss weather service.

It comes just a month after five members of a Swiss family were found dead after going cross-country skiing in treacherous weather conditions in the Matterhorn.