A tragic accident unfolded on Thursday evening as a helicopter crashed into the Gulf sea off the coast of the UAE, leaving two pilots missing, according to a statement released by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
The incident, which occurred at approximately 8.30pm on September 7, 2023, involved a Bell 212 helicopter, registered under the mark A6-ALD and operated by Aerogulf.
The helicopter was on a night training excursion with two pilots onboard, one of Egyptian and the other of South African nationality. The aircraft had initiated its flight from Al Maktoum International Airport.
Promptly responding to the accident report, the Air Accident Investigation Sector of the GCAA deployed search and rescue teams to the crash site.
The wreckage of the helicopter has been retrieved, but the crew members remain unaccounted for. The rescue teams are working diligently, scouring the area in an ongoing effort to locate the missing individuals.