Fit of pique as plane lands on Mont Blanc

TWO Swiss mountaineers landed a small plane less than 400 metres from the summit of Mont Blanc yesterday before heading for the top of Europe’s tallest peak with police in pursuit, the French gendarme said.

The pair landed the aircraft at 4,450 metres (14,600 feet) on the Alpine peak in an incident described as a “provocation” by Eric Fournier, the mayor of the nearby Chamonix resort.

“It constitutes an intolerable attack on the high mountain environment and on all existing protective measures,” Mr Fournier said, describing the behaviour as “unprecedented”.

Police spotted the plane on the east face of Mont Blanc, Lieutenant Colonel Stephane Bozon, who heads the gendarmerie’s mountain rescue service in Chamonix, told AFP.

The area, officials said, is not an authorised landing zone.

Police intercepted the two Swiss mountaineers to obtain their identity and asked them to turn back.

The pair were allowed to take off. Ltcol Bozon said they were reflecting on what offence had been committed. Thousands of climbers attempt ascents of Mont Blanc during the summer months, aiming to reach the 4,809 metre summit.

Officials have been grappling with a steep rise in adventure-seeking tourists, some without sufficient equipment or experience, hoping to scale the mountain.

The increase in numbers has led to some people camping illegally and has prompted warnings over sanitary risks such as water availability and problems with waste disposal.