What a mountain climber found on the icy slopes of France’s Mont Blanc, and what he chose to do with the discovery, proves “that there are still honest people” in this world, according to French Police.

The mountain climber stumbled upon a box labeled “Made in India” which was filled with dozens of cut jewels, worth as much as A$420,000.  The cache is believed to be cargo from either Air India Flight 245, which crashed on the mountain during poor weather way back in 1950, of from Air India Flight 101, which crashed on the same spot 16 years later.

Regional police commander Sylvain Merly says the experienced Mont Blanc climber (who asked to stay anonymous) found the box on 9 September and immediately turned it in to authorities.

Merly said debris from the Air India crashes regularly rises to the surface on Mont Blanc.

“Things come up from the glaciers,” Merly said, “They're always moving.”

And Merly appreciates the climber’s honesty.

“He could have kept them but he chose to turn them in because he knew they belonged to someone who probably perished,” Merly said.