2009 Gabonese Eurocopter AS 532 crash

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]

2009 Gabonese helicopter crash
A French Air Force Eurocopter AS-532 identical to the one involved in the incident.
Occurrence
DateJanuary 17, 2009 (2009-01-17)
SummaryUnder investigation
SiteAtlantic Ocean off Gabon
Aircraft
Aircraft typeEurocopter AS 532
OperatorFrench military
Flight originFrench naval ship Foudre in the Atlantic Ocean
Passengers6
Crew4
Fatalities8
Injuries0
Survivors2
Libreville
Crash site is located south of the capital city Libreville, half way from Port-Gentil

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]

French presence in Gabon
See also: France–Gabon relations

France has maintained a military base in Gabon since its independence in 1960. The French military regularly conducts military exercises with the Gabonese army. French presence is known to have reduced tensions among various groups that operate in the three small islands of Gabon. These islands are rich in oil reserves found in surrounding off-shore waters. Islands are claimed by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.[8]

References
  1. "French army helicopter in Gabon crash". Reuters. 2009-01-18. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  2. Proult, Julien (2009-01-18). "Gabon helicopter crash: 5 more bodies found". AP. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  3. "Six missing, one dead in Gabon helicopter crash". Taipei Times. 2009-01-18. Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  4. "French Soldiers' Bodies Found In Wreckage Of Army Copter". AFP. 2009-01-18. Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  5. "One dead, six missing after French military helicopter crash". Irish Independent. 2009-01-18. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  6. "French helicopter in Gabon crash". BBC. 2009-01-18. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  7. "French army helicopter crashes, eight dead or missing". AFP. 2009-01-18. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  8. "French chopper crash in Gabon not to be blamed on weather". Afrik.com. 19 Jan 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
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