Attersee plane wreck badly damaged as recovery faces weather delay

The wreck of a small aircraft that crashed into Lake Attersee has suffered extensive damage, ORF Upper Austria reported. Rescue teams examined it at a depth of about 163 metres, finding several parts broken or bent. Weather conditions mean the recovery is unlikely to begin before Saturday.

The wreck lies about 300 metres from the shore at one of the lake’s deepest points. Recovering it is considered technically difficult.

According to information available so far, the flight had been booked for a 19-year-old student pilot and a 24-year-old flight instructor from Germany. The instructor had a second home in St. Gilgen in the Flachgau region. Police officially confirmed on Thursday that the light aircraft had crashed and that both people had been found dead inside the wreck.

Thomas Manahl, incident commander for the diving operation, told ORF Upper Austria that the aircraft had sustained significant damage. Several parts had broken off or bent, and pieces were found around the wreck, he said. The tail had bent and at least one wing was also damaged.

The damage is making the recovery more difficult. The aircraft is lying directly on the lakebed, meaning a lifting strap cannot simply be passed underneath it. Rescuers must find attachment points on the surface, which is particularly difficult with such a light aircraft.

Working with a diving robot is also complicated by poor visibility. Sediment and suspended particles affect the images, forcing the team to work partly without a clear view, Manahl said.

The planned recovery involves using a diving robot to attach ropes to the wreck. A cable winch would then lift the aircraft. At a depth of about 10 metres, lifting balloons are also to be attached to bring the plane out of the water.

Manahl said the exact points for attaching the ropes must first be decided together with an aviation expert. About a dozen emergency personnel are currently involved in preparations. Up to 25 people, including divers, could take part in the recovery itself.

Thunderstorms, wind and waves could halt the operation. Unstable weather is expected on Friday, and strong movement on the water could make work impossible, Manahl said.

The two-seat P2002JF aircraft crashed for reasons that remain unclear on Wednesday morning and sank immediately. According to information available so far, it had taken off from Salzburg. Flightradar24 data showed that contact was lost shortly after 11.23am.