A man and a woman who were caught up in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands have died, police said.
The avalanche was reported shortly after 12.30pm in the Chalamain Gap area of the Cairngorms.
The two victims had been airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after mountain rescue teams carried out a search in the area, Northern Constabulary said.
Another man who was flown to the same hospital remains in a critical condition.
A police spokesman said no further information would be given about those involved until their families have been notified.
Police had launched a search with mountain rescue teams, rescue dogs and a helicopter.
The rescue operation has been stood down, police said.
It was the latest incident in the Scottish mountains in recent weeks.
Earlier this week, a hillwalker died during an expedition with a mountaineering club in the Cairngorms.
Graham Connell, 31, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, was found dead in the Jacob’s Ladder area on Monday, after a large-scale search for him and five other people who were reported overdue on Sunday afternoon.
The other members in the party, who were unhurt, were picked up by an RAF rescue helicopter after being located by Braemar Mountain Rescue Team on a hill near Carn Tarsuinn.
Earlier this month, three men survived falling 150m in an avalanche in the Coire an t-Sneachda area of the Cairngorms.
The men, who were wearing helmets, were airlifted to hospital with leg injuries.
In January, four people were killed in an avalanche in Glencoe.
