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'Potential crime' probe into death of Scots wingsuit flyer Liam Byrne dropped
Overview
Swiss authorities have dropped a criminal investigation into the death of British champion wingsuit flyer Liam Byrne, who died at the age of 24 following a crash on the Gitschen mountain in the Swiss Alps in June last year. The Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office concluded there was insufficient evidence of criminal suspicion or third-party involvement, determining that the fatal crash was likely caused by insufficient lift and low altitude.
Key points
- The criminal investigation into the death of Scottish wingsuit flyer Liam Byrne in the Swiss Alps has been discontinued.
- Byrne, a 24-year-old British champion from Stonehaven, suffered fatal injuries on the Gitschen mountain after taking off from 2,400m in June last year.
- The Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office found no indications of criminal acts by third parties or equipment defects.
- The report concluded the fatal crash was attributable to a situation with no escape resulting from insufficient lift and low altitude.
- Byrne was an experienced extreme sports enthusiast who had completed thousands of jumps and featured in the 2024 BBC documentary The Boy Who Can Fly.