BRUSSELS – Thirty one injured Belgians and 52 members of their families returned home from Europe’s ski resorts this weekend.

Two planes were chartered by the insurance company Europ Assistance for the “traditional repatriation” of Belgians who come a cropper on the ski slopes.

The victims were suffering from a range of injuries, from twisted knees to broken bones.

They returned from ski resorts in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland aboard two Airbus planes leaving from Innsbruck in Austria and Grenoble in France.

The interior of both planes was adapted to accommodate the large number of injured passengers.

Sixty percent of the travellers, who were suffering from light injuries, could benefit from an extra seat.

Medical staff were on hand to look after the injured during the flight.

[Copyright Expatica 2005]

Subject: Belgian news