In Calvados, near the crash site of Olivier Dassault's helicopter.

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SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP

The helicopter which crashed Sunday in Touques (Calvados) resulting in the death of Olivier Dassault and the pilot was "perfectly in working order", we learned on Wednesday from the Lisieux prosecutor's office.

“All the checks had been made”, on the device which dates from 1986, before taking off from private property, added Lisieux public prosecutor Delphine Mienniel.

However, a technical failure is still not ruled out.

“The samples are in progress.

Thereafter there will be expertises ”, specified the magistrate.

The debris of this squirrel-type device was evacuated from the accident site on Tuesday, according to Delphine Mienniel.

Has there been human failure?

The autopsy performed Tuesday which concludes in the death of Olivier Dassault and his pilot by "multiple trauma" does not allow to say, explained the magistrate.

Little chance of knowing if the pilot is unwell

"Afterwards, we took samples which may be more meaningful," added the magistrate.

"If there is alcohol or narcotics, toxicological samples will in principle provide us with some answers," in the days to come, said Delphine Mienniel.

As for the possible discomfort of the 74-year-old pilot, “as it stands, it is not a cardiac discomfort that appears.

In the state of the bodies, I am not convinced that we can establish it ”, explained the magistrate.

According to the first elements of the investigation, the helicopter "went into a spin with an extremely important centrifugal force" and "broke in two with the tail on one side and the cockpit on the other" after having " hit a tree, ”added the magistrate.

The aircraft had just taken off in an "atypical" way, with an angle of about 45 degrees instead of 90 usually, according to the most direct witness of the tragedy, she recalled.

This witness is part of the family that owns the place where the tragedy took place, friends of the billionaire administrator of Dassault Aviation.

The witness was almost below the helicopter, according to the prosecution.

At least two other direct witnesses, personnel of the property, were heard, according to the same source.

Investigators will also hear indirect witnesses who were in the vicinity of the property, according to Delphine Mienniel.

An investigation for "manslaughter" was opened Sunday.

According to the diocese of Beauvais, a mass is scheduled for Friday 10:00 am in the cathedral of Beauvais in the presence of the body of the deputy of Oise but without burial, a funeral then being planned in Paris.

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  • Miscellaneous

  • Accident

  • Helicopter

  • Dassault

  • Investigation