A woman was killed when a ski gondola crashed down a snowy mountain at Engelberg ski resort in the Swiss Alps, local officials say. Police in the central Swiss canton of Nidwalden report that the gondola detached from the cable 'for reasons that are still unclear' at about 11:00 (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses told Swiss media that strong winds were buffeting the mountainside when the crash occurred. Dramatic video has emerged showing the gondola tumbling down Mt Titlis and flipping over several times before coming to a halt.

The victim was identified as a 61-year-old woman from the region, and authorities are actively investigating the cause of the crash. She was reportedly alone in the Titlis Xpress ski gondola, which had just left the Trübsee station and was climbing the middle section of the mountain when the incident happened.

Rescue operations involved air rescue services, ambulances, and police officers who were called to the scene, while another video from social media showed rescuers moving through deep snow to reach the crash site. Witnesses described the gondolas swaying in extremely strong winds, with gusts exceeding 80 km/h (50 mph). The cable car service has since been suspended, ensuring safety for the remaining passengers in the area who were evacuated from approximately 40 gondolas.

The ski lift management expressed their shock at the accident, extending their thoughts and condolences to the victim's loved ones.