The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed on Friday that one of the two crew members from the helicopter crash on Thursday night has been found dead.
The tragic accident involved a ‘Bell 212’ helicopter owned by Aerogulf, which crashed into the Gulf sea during a night training mission. The chopper bore the registration mark A6-ALD and had departed from Al Maktoum International Airport.
The deceased was one of the two pilots onboard, both of distinct nationalities – Egyptian and South African. The search mission for the remaining crew member is vigorously continuing, as authorities spearhead efforts to locate the individual and the wreckage.
The crash occurred off the UAE’s coast on September 7 at around 8:30 PM local time. The exact circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Sector at the GCAA.
In the wake of this tragic event, the GCAA extended its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of the deceased pilot. During this trying time, the authority urged the public to remain circumspect and rely only on information released by official channels, discouraging the spread of rumors and misinformation.
As the search operation perseveres, the aviation community, along with the nation, holds its breath in hopes for positive news regarding the second pilot. The incident serves as a solemn reminder of the risks undertaken by those who navigate the skies, even during routine training exercises.
GCAA emphasized the critical role of the public in responsibly handling information during such sensitive times and encouraged everyone to extend support to the ongoing investigations by respecting the advisory to refer only to official updates for information.
