Six die in Italian helicopter crash

A helicopter crashed today in a mountain range near the French border, killing six people and injuring one, the Italian flight safety agency said.

The helicopter was flying skiers to mountains west of Turin, but lost control amid thick fog at an altitude of about 10,000 feet, RAI state television reported. The pilot, a guide and four skiers were killed, it said.

The National Flight Safety Agency did not confirm these details or offer a possible cause, saying that it had opened an investigation.

The helicopter belonged to the Air Service Centre company, which ferries skiers to the mountains and also offers flight-training programs. The company had no immediate comment.