Jump to content

Two British helicopter pilots dead after crash in southern France


News_Editor

Recommended Posts

Two British helicopter pilots dead after crash in southern France

2010-12-10 23:52:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

GRASSE, FRANCE (BNO NEWS) -- Two British pilots were killed on Thursday when the helicopter they were flying came down in Tourrettes-sur-Loup valley in southern France, the UK government confirmed on Friday.

The two pilots were identified as Martin Rutty and Simon Lichtenstein and represented the United kingdom in several flying competitions. The pair have previously won five British Championships in over ten years of participating as a team.

''We were notified of the death of two British nationals in a helicopter crash in Tourrettes-sur-Loup in southern France on December 9," a spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said. "Next of kin have been informed and consular assistance is being provided."

Rutty, 50, and Lichtenstein, 49, were flying a Robinson R22 helicopter back to Britain after the aircraft had been on display in an Italian showroom. The two Herefordshire natives took off from the French town of Sospel near the Italian border at about 9 a.m. local time.

The morning was bright and clear and the Robinson R22 was heading towards Avignon but crashed shortly after departing, local media reported. Preliminary reports indicate that the helicopter suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure.

Strong winds are also believed to have played a part in the accident. Rescue crews and law enforcement agents are recovering evidence to determine the causes of the fatal crash.

''Martin and Simon have been long-term pilots, flying together since 1999. They were highly experienced pilots, having held four British championship titles and represented the British Helicopter Team in the past four World Championships, most recently in Belarus,'' said helicopter company Fly-Q, which was founded by the two pilots.

tvn.png

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-10

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.








  • Topics

  • Latest posts...

    1. 0

      Thailand Live Monday 7 October 2024

    2. 0

      Parents Demand 1.21M Baht Compensation for Children They Didn’t Raise

    3. 489

      White Culture

    4. 189

      The Republican Freak Show

    5. 67

      Liquid limits at airport security...

    6. 4

      Iran's Nuclear Ambitions and Israel's Growing Concern

    7. 364

      Harris Lies, Americans Die. Illegal Aliens are more Important

    8. 2,404

      Thai gov. to tax (remitted) income from abroad for tax residents starting 2024 - Part II

    9. 0

      Horrific Bus Fire in Thailand Sparks National Debate on Safety

    10. 21
    11. 21

      Tim Walz's Verbal Missteps Stir Concerns Amid Tight Campaign

    12. 8

      Met Police Officers Reinstated After Appeal Over Bianca Williams Stop and Search Incident

    13. 8

      Met Police Officers Reinstated After Appeal Over Bianca Williams Stop and Search Incident

    14. 2

      harris sidesteps question on whether Bibi is a good US ally

×
×
  • Create New...