Seven people killed in mid-air collision over the Italian Alps

A French aircraft that allegedly flew into Italian airspace without giving due warning to air traffic control is being blamed for a mid-air collision with a helicopter that's cost seven lives.

The crash happened in the Valle d'Aosta region of Italy near the French border.

Italian police told RAI public radio the plane had seemingly "crossed into Italian territory without giving a communication to Italian air traffic control."

Two people survived the accident.