Tragedy in Pinzgau: Four fatalities after the plane crash in Salzburg

Tragedy in Pinzgau: Four fatalities after the plane crash in Salzburg

In the early Saturday afternoon of July 5, 2025, a tragic plane crash near the forest in Pinzgau, Salzburg occurred. A small plane that started a sightseeing flight at the Oberschleißheim airfield near Munich crashed around 12:45 p.m. and immediately went up in flames. The fire brigade was mobilized to search for the inmates and combat several smaller fires around the wreck. In the evening, the operations management confirmed that all four occupants, three men and a woman were killed. It is assumed that the deceased comes from Germany. 

The accident occurred about 100 meters above Gerlos Straße B165 in rough terrain. Due to the difficult fire fighting and the unclear cause of the accident, the area had to be blocked. It was not excluded that pyrotechnics were used to trigger the emergency nozzle, which increased the risk of explosions. The fire had been successfully deleted until 3:00 p.m., but there were questions about the cause of the crash and the identity of the victims, which are to be further investigated by experts. 5min reports that the exact course of the accident is still unclear.

Current developments and historical perspective

The tragedy in Pinzgau is particularly serious, as it reflects the dangers that go hand in hand with flying. According to Statista , the number and severity of the aircraft fall has dropped in recent years. In 2024, 268 deaths were registered worldwide by aircraft turrets, while over 1,000 victims were complained about a year before the turn of the millennium. The accident rate in commercial aviation is low compared to driving. Nevertheless, security remains a central topic, especially with regard to technical innovations such as landing assistants who are supposed to support the landing process.

authorities and security forces continue to endeavor to achieve complete information about the crash and to illuminate the background. It is a sad memory that despite technical progress in air traffic, the risk of accidents can never be completely ruled out.

For the relatives of the accidentally incorrect occupants, this incident is an immeasurable loss that raises many questions. The municipality and emergency services help them in this difficult time, while the investigation into the cause of the accident is continued.