A British businessman and two others were killed when a light aircraft crashed in the Swiss Alps on Tuesday. The single-engine Cirrus SR22T went down near the resort town of Leukerbad in the canton of Valais, approximately ten minutes after taking off from Sion airport in the Rhône Valley.

Owain Davies, 55, an engineering firm manager and father of two from Carmarthenshire, Wales, was among those who lost their lives. Davies, who had taken over as head of Amcanu, a Burry Port-based manufacturing company founded by his father Spencer Davies OBE in 1975, was travelling as a passenger with two close friends at the time of the crash. Both other occupants also died, including one other British national.

Amcanu described Davies as a familiar and respected figure at the company, calling him “an unstoppable force,” a mentor, and “a very good friend” to many of its employees. The firm noted that he was much admired and respected as a husband, father, and grandfather. Davies was also known for being an experienced pilot with a passion for aviation, though he was travelling as a passenger on this occasion. He had a significant network within the aviation community and often flew helicopters in his spare time.

Davies had a long record of community involvement, including nearly 25 years serving as a helmsman with the Burry Port Lifeboat and acting as a trustee for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity since 2017. A spokesperson for the charity highlighted his substantial contributions to their operations.

Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and three helicopters, responded to the incident after witnesses reported smoke rising from the mountainside. The precise cause of the crash remains unclear, with investigations underway by the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board, local police, and the office of the attorney-general.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting the families of the two British nationals who died. Davies’s son, Aron, expressed profound grief over the loss, describing his father as driven, determined, and someone who faced challenges without hesitation.

Officials have yet to release further information about the identities of the other victims or details surrounding the sequence of events leading to the aircraft’s descent.