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Austrian Red Bull Air Race champion Hannes Arch dead in helicopter crash

Xinhua, September 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Austrian stunt pilot and Red Bull Air Race champion Hannes Arch has been found dead in a helicopter crash in the Austrian alps.

Local media reported that the 48-year-old considered as one of the best stunt pilots in the world, was flying his helicopter with the other person on Thursday in the Schober group of the Hohe Tauern mountains in south Austria.

He had been transporting goods to an alpine hut, part of the operations of his air transport company. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter crashed into a rock wall and fell into a steep gully.

Arch was reported dead at the scene, while the unidentified passenger was seriously injured and airlifted to hospital in critical condition later on Friday morning.

Local police said the cause of the accident was unclear. Endit