Death of Olivier Dassault: what do we know about the helicopter crash?

On Sunday, Prime Minister Jean Castex paid tribute to the deputy for Oise Olivier Dassault, who died Sunday evening in a helicopter crash in Normandy.

He greeted "those who, like him, loved France deeply".

The exact circumstances of the death of the son of the great industrialist Serge Dassault and grandson of Marcel are still very unclear.

The investigation is expected to accelerate Monday morning. 

Accident during take-off

Olivier Dassault, 69 years old, was captain of industry, but also deputy of Oise under the colors of the Republicans.

The accident of his helicopter occurred around 5:50 p.m., Sunday evening, on the heights of the town of Touques, near Deauville, a town where the Dassault family owns a property.

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The crash took place at the time of takeoff, according to the Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BUA), which opened an investigation.

Its agents are due to arrive on site Monday morning.

The pilot also found dead

It was a private flight: the pilot was also found dead and there were no other passengers on board.

Sunday evening, the public prosecutor of Lisieux went to the scene of the accident.

She opened an investigation for manslaughter and the research section of the air transport gendarmerie is in charge of the investigations.

With the night, the investigators could not carry out the technical analyzes which will make it possible to understand the causes of the accident, but this work must begin this Monday morning.

A humanist deputy, a visionary entrepreneur, a man deeply committed to his country, an artist with elegant audacity: so was Olivier Dassault.

He will be missed by all who, like him, loved France deeply.

In thought with his family and loved ones.

- Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) March 7, 2021