Several people dead as small plane crashes in Switzerland

(AP):

Police in central Switzerland say a small plane crashed in a forest, killing several people yesterday morning.

According to the police, the aircraft went down near the town of Hergiswil, which is 65 miles (105 kilometres) south of Zurich. They said authorities had to send up a helicopter to extinguish the resulting fire before rescue workers could get to the scene.

Police said the aircraft had burnt and officials haven't yet been able to ascertain the exact number, and identities, of those who died, or why the plane crashed. An investigation is under way and will include the Swiss Accident Investigation Board.

Hergiswil is on Lake Lucerne at the foot of Mount Pilatus, a popular tourist destination.