Potez 662

French Government

The four engine aircraft was en route from Algiers to Vichy with a crew of four and three passengers on board. At 1247LT, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew informed ATC he wanted to divert to Marseille due to icing conditions. Sixteen minutes later, the aircraft lost altitude, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on the south slope of Mt Aigoual, near the Minier Pass, north of Villeraugue. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post impact fire. All seven occupants were killed, among them the French General Charles Huntziger, Chief of Ground Forces. Unique example built in 1937, the aircraft was christened 'Plus est en nous'. Crew: Jean Lefèvre, pilot. Passengers: General Charles Huntziger, Jean Labusquière, Chief of Staff, Captain de Royère.