Three people died when a Cirrus SR22T struck a slope above Leukerbad in Valais on Sept. 15, 2026, at about 4 p.m. The single-engine aircraft had flown from Lugano with a stop at Sion before heading to Buochs. One victim was identified as 55-year-old Owain Davies, managing director of Welsh engineering firm Amcanu; two other victims are awaiting formal identification. Police Valais has opened a cantonal investigation to establish the cause.
British Businessman Owain Davies Among Three Killed in Swiss Alps Plane Crash Near Leukerbad
Owain DaviesCredit: Amcanu
Three people, including British businessman Owain Davies, were killed when a single-engine plane crashed into a mountainside above the alpine resort town of Leukerbad in the canton of Valais on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, local authorities said.
What Happened
Valais cantonal police (Police Valais) reported that the aircraft, a Cirrus SR22T, departed Lugano, made an intermediate stop at Sion Airport, and then continued north toward Buochs airfield in the canton of Nidwalden. At about 4 p.m. local time the plane struck a northern slope in the Fluhalp area above Leukerbad for reasons that remain unknown.
Witnesses in the valley reported seeing heavy smoke rising from the crash site. First responders who reached the scene found three deceased occupants, Police Valais said.
Swiss police shared a photo related to a single-engine plane crash on Sept. 15, 2026, that left three dead in the Alps.Credit: Valais cantonal police
Victims and Reactions
One of the victims was identified as 55-year-old Owain Davies, managing director of Amcanu, a Wales-based engineering firm founded in 1975 by his father, Spencer Davies. Amcanu said Davies was on a private flying trip and praised him as a familiar presence on the factory floor, a mentor to many colleagues and a passionate leader.
“Owain was our Managing Director, but to many of us he was much more than that. He was a familiar face on the factory floor, an unstoppable force, a mentor and, for many people who have spent a significant part of their working lives at Amcanu… a very good friend,” the company said in a statement.
Davies is survived by his wife, two children, his father and grandchildren. His son Aron, who was running the business during his father's absence, told the BBC: “He was my mentor throughout my life, personally and in business, and I know many people at Amcanu will feel that they have lost a mentor too.”
Investigation Under Way
Police Valais said the other two victims have not yet been publicly named while formal identification procedures continue. Cantonal authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Officials said the inquiry will likely examine the aircraft's flight path, maintenance records and any available communications or recordings. Authorities also released photographs from the scene as part of their briefing.
The investigation remains ongoing and no cause has yet been determined.
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