 A French Air Force Eurocopter AS-532 identical to the one involved in the incident. | |
| Occurrence | |
|---|---|
| Date | January 17, 2009 |
| Summary | Under investigation[needs update] |
| Site | Atlantic Ocean off Gabon |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Eurocopter AS 532 |
| Operator | French military |
| Flight origin | French naval ship Foudre in the Atlantic Ocean |
| Passengers | 6 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Fatalities | 8 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Survivors | 2 |
The 2009 Gabonese helicopter crash occurred in the Atlantic Ocean off Gabon at 8:08 p.m. on January 17, 2009. Ten soldiers were in the Eurocopter AS 532 when it crashed,[1] leaving eight military personnel dead.[2][3] Three soldiers initially survived the French military helicopter crash which occurred shortly after take-off from the amphibious assault ship FS Foudre. One of the rescued soldiers died from injuries at Libreville Hospital.[4] The helicopter came down off the coastal city of Nyonie between Port-Gentil and Libreville during a joint exercise with Gabonese troops.[3] The cause of the crash is not known.[5][needs update]
French President Nicolas Sarkozy immediately ordered his Minister of Defence, Hervé Morin, to fly to Gabon to oversee the rescue mission.[6] Morin visited friends and relatives of the missing at Camp De Gaulle.[7]
After the crash, FS Foudre was the first ship at the scene, and picked up some of the injured.[3] Two helicopters, several ships, as well as underwater robots were sent by the French oil company Total S.A. to assist with rescue efforts.[3][7] On January 18, the wreckage of the helicopter was discovered 35 metres (115 ft) underwater.[2] Gabon Interior Minister Andre Mba Obame said, "Gabon is doing all that it can to help with the search."[7][needs update]
