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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

German Pilot Crashes Into Mountain

Compiled From Wire Services

A pilot deliberately crashed his single-engine plane into Germany’s highest mountain Sunday, ignoring pleas from police and army officers in pursuing helicopters not to take his life.

Authorities evacuated tourists from a summit observation deck and shut down two cable cars after being notified of the pilot’s intention to kill himself by slamming into the 9,718-foot Zugspitze.

The plane crashed into the mountain eight minutes later. No one on the ground was reported injured.

Authorities did not release the name of the man, a 55-year-old from the western state of North RhineWestphalia. He had set off from there accompanied by another plane flown by an instructor.