14 DAY TRIAL // A treasure worth $320,000 (£200,000 / €240,000) has been discovered on the Mont Blanc peak in the French Alps.
A chest of jewels has been found on the wrecks of a plane which experts believe date back to the 50s or 60s.
According to authorities, the treasure was discovered by a 20-year-old French climber. It has been sitting at a height of 10,000 feet (3,050 meters) for half a century.
The climber went to the police with his discovery, instead of keeping the jewels. They were in a metal box when he came across them.
“The young climber immediately understood that the precious stones had belonged to someone who died on the ice. [...] He could have kept them for himself but instead he chose to bring them to us,” Police commander Sylvain Merly of Albertville Gendarmerie describes.
Officials believe that they are Indian gems lost in a flight from India. However, two such flights crashed in that time span, one in 1950 and a second one in 1966.
The rocks have been examined by “crystal hunter,” Alexandre Pittin, and “crystal hunting guide,” Stephane Dan, Daily Mail writes.
They believe that the 1966 Air India flight from Bombay to New York is a more likely origin of the gems.
The plane smashed into the mountain on the windy and foggy day of January 24, killing all 117 aboard. Legend has it that it has crashed while transporting Indian gemstones, and many sought them on the peak.
The “Malabar Princess” crashed in November 1950. It was carrying 40 Indian navy sailors and eight members of the crew, who all lost their lives. A snowstorm was the end for the Constellation flight.
A myth is also attached to this crash story, as locals believe that a Maharani princess might have been on the flight.