The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

France opts not to charge Swiss minister for flight violation

Alain Berset
Berset has held a pilot's licence since 2009. Keystone / Peter Klaunzer

Swiss Interior Minister Alain Berset has avoided legal proceedings in France after flying a light aircraft into restricted airspace earlier this month.

Berset’s plane was forced to land by the French military after he accidentally flew too close to the Avord military airbase in central France on July 5.

He was allowed to continue his private flight after identifying himself and showing the necessary customs approvals.

The French ambassador to Switzerland confirmed to the Keystone-SDA news agency that no charges would be brought against Berset, reports Swiss public broadcaster, SRFExternal link.

Berset has held a pilot’s licence since 2009 and occasionally rents light aircraft for private flights, according to the interior ministry.

He had been flying solo in a Cessna aircraft on a private trip from Switzerland to western France when he was forced to land.

Popular Stories

News

ETH climate researcher honoured with the German Environmental Award

More

ETH climate researcher honoured with the German Environmental Award

This content was published on Swiss climate researcher Sonia Isabelle Seneviratne from ETH Zurich receives the German Environmental Award 2025. She shares the prize, endowed with 500,000 euros, with the management duo of the steel galvanising company Zinq.

Read more: ETH climate researcher honoured with the German Environmental Award
Police end attempted occupation of Zurich's Platzspitz square

More

Police end attempted occupation of Zurich’s Platzspitz square

This content was published on A large contingent of police prevented an attempted occupation of the Platzspitz area behind the National Museum in Zurich on Friday afternoon. They checked over 200 people and ordered them away. The group of occupiers cited anti-capitalist motives as the reason for the action.

Read more: Police end attempted occupation of Zurich’s Platzspitz square

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR