French authorities are investigating two climbers who landed a small plane 305 metres below the summit of Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is the highest peak in western Europe, standing at 4,810 m tall.
The two climbers, both from Switzerland, had disembarked from the plane and were making their way to the summit when they were intercepted by France’s National Gendarmerie, who arrived on the scene and told the pair to turn around.
According to CNN, the two have not been arrested. An investigation has been opened into the matter.
Teton Gravity reports that the mayor of Chamonix-Mont Blanc, Eric Fournier said in a statement that the climbers’ actions ‘constitutes an intolerable attack on the high mountain environment and on all existing protective measures.’
Climbers looking to summit Mont Blanc are required to book a room in one of the shelters. Failing to do so is punishable by up to two years in prison and a €300,000 (R5,427,890) fine.
Image: Unsplash
