A mountaineer has finally received his share of reward for the treasure he found eight years ago from the debris of two Indian planes that had crashed into Mont Blanc in 1950 and in 1966.<o:p></o:p>

The treasure, including emeralds, rubies and sapphires, had remained hidden in a metal box that was onboard one of the two Air India planes that had crashed into Mont Blanc in 1950 and then in 1966.

<o:p>Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/stunning-images-of-hot-air-balloons-taking-over-the-sky-in-antequera-spain-during-kings-cup-434514">Stunning images of hot air balloons taking over the sky in Antequera, Spain, during King's cup</a></o:p>

Since the crash, mountaineers have often discovered baggage, debris, papers and sometimes human remains too from the two crashed Air India flights. This mountaineer stumbled upon a metal box in 2013 and realised there were precious stones in the box.<o:p></o:p>

Experts believe these stones were onboard the 1966 flight which was taking nearly 117 passengers from Mumbai to New York. The flight, Boeing 707, had crashed on the south-west side of Mont Blanc on January 24, 1966. All 117 people onboard, including India's nuclear programme expert, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, were killed in this crash.<o:p></o:p>

When the mountaineer found these precious stones, he informed the authorities and claims he does not "regret having been honest". Now, eight years after his find, he was told that the treasure will finally be shared with him this year.

<o:p>Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/rewind-2021-covid-coups-talibanthe-tumultuous-year-that-was-434599#coronavirus-the-seemingly-endless-loop-were-stuck-in-434552">Rewind 2021: Covid, coups, Taliban...the tumultuous year that was</a></o:p>

"The stones have been shared this week"&nbsp;in two equal lots valued at about €150,000 ($169,000) each, the mayor of Chamonix, Eric Fournier, said.<o:p></o:p>

These precious stones are not the only treasure found from these crashed airplanes. In September 2012, Indian government had was handed a bag of diplomatic mail that was found in the 1966 flight. <o:p></o:p>

In 2020, when the ice was melting from Mont Blanc's Bossons glacier, copies of Indian newspapers with headlines about Indira Gandhi becoming the prime minister of India were also spotted.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A mountaineer has finally received his share of reward for the treasure he found eight years ago from the debris of two Indian planes that had crashed into Mont Blanc in 1950 and in 1966.

A mountaineer has finally received his share of reward for the treasure he found eight years ago from the debris of two Indian planes that had crashed into Mont Blanc in 1950 and in 1966. The treasure, including emeralds, rubies and sapphires, had remained hidden in a metal box that was onboard one of the two Air India planes that had crashed into Mont Blanc in 1950 and then in 1966. Have a look | Stunning images of hot air balloons taking over the sky in Antequera, Spain, during King's cup Since the crash, mountaineers have often discovered baggage, debris, papers and sometimes human remains too from the two crashed Air India flights. This mountaineer stumbled upon a metal box in 2013 and realised there were precious stones in the box. Experts believe these stones were onboard the 1966 flight which was taking nearly 117 passengers from Mumbai to New York. The flight, Boeing 707, had crashed on the south-west side of Mont Blanc on January 24, 1966. All 117 people onboard, including India's nuclear programme expert, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, were killed in this crash. When the mountaineer found these precious stones, he informed the authorities and claims he does not "regret having been honest". Now, eight years after his find, he was told that the treasure will finally be shared with him this year. Have a look | Rewind 2021: Covid, coups, Taliban...the tumultuous year that was "The stones have been shared this week" in two equal lots valued at about €150,000 ($169,000) each, the mayor of Chamonix, Eric Fournier, said. These precious stones are not the only treasure found from these crashed airplanes. In September 2012, Indian government had was handed a bag of diplomatic mail that was found in the 1966 flight. In 2020, when the ice was melting from Mont Blanc's Bossons glacier, copies of Indian newspapers with headlines about Indira Gandhi becoming the prime minister of India were also spotted. (With inputs from agencies)

Mountaineer gets jewels he found from debris of Air India's crashed plane

Eight years after they were found, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires discovered on a glacier off France's Mont Blanc have been divided between the climber who uncovered them and local authorities.

In 2013, the mountaineer stumbled upon the precious stones. Some fifty years earlier, they had been hidden inside a metal box that had been onboard an Indian plane that crashed in the barren landscape.

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Chamonix Mayor Eric Fournier said the stones have been split this week into two equal lots worth around 150,000 euros ($169,000) each.

He expressed his satisfaction that events were in the process of coming to a final conclusion, particularly with regard to the climber, whose "integrity" in turning the find over to police made him a hero in his eyes.

In 1950 and 1966, two Air India planes crashed into Mont Blanc.

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The climbers often find debris from the two aircrafts, as well as baggage and human remains.

During September 2012, India took possession of a bag of diplomatic mail from Kangchenjunga. This was from a Boeing 707 flight from Mumbai that crashed on the southwest face of Mont Blanc on January 24, 1966.

Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the pioneer of India's nuclear programme, was one of 117 people killed in the crash.

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According to authorities, the precious stones likely came from the flight from Mumbai to New York.

In 2017, human remains were found on the site which are also suspected to have been from the 1966 crash or from the other Indian plane, the Malabar Princess, which went down in 1950.

(With inputs from agencies)

Eight years after they were found, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires discovered on a glacier off France's Mont Blanc have been divided between the climber who uncovered them and local authorities.

Eight years after they were found, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires discovered on a glacier off France's Mont Blanc have been divided between the climber who uncovered them and local authorities. In 2013, the mountaineer stumbled upon the precious stones. Some fifty years earlier, they had been hidden inside a metal box that had been onboard an Indian plane that crashed in the barren landscape. Also read | In Egypt, archaeologists uncover two 2,500-year-old tombs, golden tongues from the Saite Dynasty Chamonix Mayor Eric Fournier said the stones have been split this week into two equal lots worth around 150,000 euros ($169,000) each. He expressed his satisfaction that events were in the process of coming to a final conclusion, particularly with regard to the climber, whose "integrity" in turning the find over to police made him a hero in his eyes. In 1950 and 1966, two Air India planes crashed into Mont Blanc. Also read | Old letters of couple reveal underground network set up to help Jewish families escape Nazi rule The climbers often find debris from the two aircrafts, as well as baggage and human remains. During September 2012, India took possession of a bag of diplomatic mail from Kangchenjunga. This was from a Boeing 707 flight from Mumbai that crashed on the southwest face of Mont Blanc on January 24, 1966. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the pioneer of India's nuclear programme, was one of 117 people killed in the crash. Also read | Complete nightmare? Woman who got £775,000 from HMRC by mistake feels troubled According to authorities, the precious stones likely came from the flight from Mumbai to New York. In 2017, human remains were found on the site which are also suspected to have been from the 1966 crash or from the other Indian plane, the Malabar Princess, which went down in 1950. (With inputs from agencies)

French climber pockets $169,000 gems he found in 2013

The Mont Blanc glacier in the French Alps yields more and more secrets as it melts -- this time a clutch of newspapers with banner headlines from when Indira Gandhi became India's first and so far only woman prime minister in 1966.

The copies of Indian newspapers the National Herald and The Economic Times were probably aboard an Air India Boeing 707 that crashed on the mountain on January 24, 1966, claiming 177 lives.

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The trove of around a dozen newspapers was found last week by Timothee Mottin, who runs a cafe-restaurant, La Cabane du Cerro, perched at an altitude of 1,350 metres (4,455 feet) near the Chamonix skiing hub.

"They are drying now but they are in very good condition," Mottin, 33, told AFP. "You can read them."

The modest cafe is around 45 minutes by foot from the Bossons glacier where the plane named after the Himalayan peak of Kangchenjunga mysteriously crashed.

Mottin said he was lucky to discover the papers when he did because the ice in which they were encased for nearly six decades "had probably just melted".

Once the papers have dried out, they will join a growing collection of found items from the crash that Mottin has put on display at the Cabane du Cerro.

He said he preferred to share his finds with visitors rather than "hide them in an attic waiting to sell them" -- something he said had become a "business" for less scrupulous climbers.

Human remains were found in the area in 2017 that could have come from the 1964 crash or that of another Indian plane, the Malabar Princess, that came down in the same area in 1950.

The most stunning find occurred in 2013, that of a box of precious stones -- emeralds, sapphires and rubies worth between 130,000 and 246,000 euros ($145,000-$275,000) -- thought to have come from the 1966 crash. 
&nbsp;

The Mont Blanc glacier in the French Alps yields more and more secrets as it melts -- this time a clutch of newspapers with banner headlines from when Indira Gandhi became India's first and so far only woman prime minister in 1966.

The Mont Blanc glacier in the French Alps yields more and more secrets as it melts -- this time a clutch of newspapers with banner headlines from when Indira Gandhi became India's first and so far only woman prime minister in 1966. The copies of Indian newspapers the National Herald and The Economic Times were probably aboard an Air India Boeing 707 that crashed on the mountain on January 24, 1966, claiming 177 lives. Also read | Indira Gandhi imposed emergency to save her PM's chair: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad The trove of around a dozen newspapers was found last week by Timothee Mottin, who runs a cafe-restaurant, La Cabane du Cerro, perched at an altitude of 1,350 metres (4,455 feet) near the Chamonix skiing hub. "They are drying now but they are in very good condition," Mottin, 33, told AFP. "You can read them." The modest cafe is around 45 minutes by foot from the Bossons glacier where the plane named after the Himalayan peak of Kangchenjunga mysteriously crashed. Mottin said he was lucky to discover the papers when he did because the ice in which they were encased for nearly six decades "had probably just melted". Once the papers have dried out, they will join a growing collection of found items from the crash that Mottin has put on display at the Cabane du Cerro. He said he preferred to share his finds with visitors rather than "hide them in an attic waiting to sell them" -- something he said had become a "business" for less scrupulous climbers. Human remains were found in the area in 2017 that could have come from the 1964 crash or that of another Indian plane, the Malabar Princess, that came down in the same area in 1950. The most stunning find occurred in 2013, that of a box of precious stones -- emeralds, sapphires and rubies worth between 130,000 and 246,000 euros ($145,000-$275,000) -- thought to have come from the 1966 crash.

Mont Blanc glacier brings reminiscences of India's history

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Mountaineer gets jewels he found from debris of Air India's crashed plane

French climber pockets $169,000 gems he found in 2013

Mont Blanc glacier brings reminiscences of India's history