Helos From Italy, France Rescue Tourists Stranded in Alps Cable Cars

摘要

Helicopter teams rescued dozens of the 110 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars over the French Alps overnight Sept. 9. The rescue included a Eurocopter EC145 operated by France's civil defense agency, Securite Civile, and two Leonardo AW139s operated by Italy's Airgreen, among other efforts. While helicopters were able to bring most of the tourists to safety, the remaining people had to stay in the cable cars overnight while crews waited until first light to resume the mission. High winds and twisted cables are the most likely cause of the gondola malfunction, which left 36 cars immobile. Safety blankets, food and water were supplied to those stranded overnight.