Polish skier hit as light aircraft lands in Alps

The 55-year-old female skier was rushed to hospital after her hand was nearly severed in the accident at the Avoriaz resort near the Swiss border.

The pilot ran into difficulties during take-off and had barely commenced his flight when he was compelled to make the emergency landing.

"The plane passed under the ski lift, just missed the trees and then a group of children, before touching down on a blue run on which the woman was skiing," a firefighter told Agence France Presse.

Two people were aboard the plane, but they escaped without injury. (nh)