Deputy member of the Republicans party, Olivier Dassault was killed at the age of 69 in a helicopter crash which took place in Touques, located in Calvados, on Sunday March 7, 2021. While an investigation for "manslaughter" is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances of this tragic event which led to the disappearance of Serge Dassault's son, some gray areas still remain. According to the Lisieux prosecutor's office, cited by AFP, the device was "perfectly in working order".
In addition, the prosecutor of the Republic of Lisieux, Delphine Mienniel, indicated that "all checks had been made" on this helicopter, which dated from 1986. However, the magistrate also underlined that "the samples are in progress" and that'"there will be expertise" subsequently in order to determine whether the accident which claimed the life of Olivier Dassault was the result of a technical failure of the aircraft or not. For the record, the wreckage of the helicopter was evacuated from the crash site.
Olivier Dassault: a human failure at the origin of his death?
In addition to a possible mechanical problem, investigators are also looking to determine whether this accident occurred as a result of human failure. An autopsy was performed on the body of Olivier Dassault, but also on that of the pilot, who was also killed in the crash of the aircraft. "We took samples. If there is alcohol or narcotics, toxicological samples will in principle provide us with some answers" added Delphine Mienniel.
Moreover, the prosecutor considered that in "the state of the elements, it is not a heart attack that appears " with regard to the helicopter pilot. At present, investigators know that the machine is "spinning with extremely high centrifugal force" and that it is "broken in half with the tail on one side and the cockpit on the other". In addition, it seems that the device also has "hit a tree." Finally, a witness present at the scene during the tragedy revealed that the helicopter took off so "atypical".
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