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Two killed in air crashes

A light aircraft and a helicopter have crashed almost simultaneously in the Alps in eastern Switzerland, killing two people and injuring three others.

It is not yet known what caused the crashes, which occurred within five minutes of each other and only 20 kilometres apart.

Police in canton Graubünden said the German-registered aircraft came down in the Bever valley, on the south side of the Albula pass, after catching fire.

The Swiss air rescue service, Rega, said it received a distress call at 11.01 on Monday morning, but that it was unable to help.

Rescue workers found the body of the pilot, who was alone on board.

The helicopter, belonging to a private company, called for help only five minutes earlier, at 10.56.

Rega said another person was killed and three injured when it came down in the Bernina region. It is not yet clear if it crashed on Swiss or Italian territory.

swissinfo with agencies

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