A helicopter has crashed with six people on board in France, sparking a search for survivors.
The crash reportedly happened at an altitude of around 1,800 metres in Savoie, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southern France, at around 7pm this evening.
The pilot managed to sound the alert before ejecting from the EC135 chopper, according to reports.
Fog is preventing helicopters from reaching the crash site, although search and rescue teams are making their way to the scene on foot.
The helicopter also had another pilot on board as well as two winch operators and two mountain rescue workers.
The Savoie prefecture said contact had been established with one of the people who had been on board.
France's air accident bureau said separately that it had opened an investigation and would dispatch a team to the site.
The accident comes just months after a helicopter crashed into a road in the UK.
Emergency services were called to the scene on the A299 near Herne Bay in Kent in July.
Fortunately there was no fire at the crash site and no-one was trapped in the aircraft.
A fire service spokesman said: "Thankfully there was no fire or persons trapped, so crews were able to make the scene safe while paramedics provided care to the pilot and passengers."
