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Argentina investigates deadly helicopters crash Argentine pilot in helicopter crash had 'vast experience'
(about 13 hours later)
Argentine officials are investigating Monday's collision between two helicopters that killed eight French nationals and both Argentine pilots. The pilot who flew a helicopter involved in a deadly crash in Argentina on Monday was "vastly experienced", his partner has told the BBC.
The officials are to be joined by French experts at the site of the crash near Villa Castelli, La Rioja province. Eight French nationals, including three sports stars, and the Argentine pilots died when the two helicopters collided.
Three well-known French sports personalities were among the victims of the collision during the filming of TV survival show Dropped. Experts are investigating the accident, which happened in good weather in La Rioja province.
French President Francois Hollande said it was "a cause of immense sadness". The sports stars were taking part in the filming of French TV reality show Dropped.
The cause of the crash is as yet unclear. Video of the accident shows the helicopters flying close to each other in clear conditions, before one appears to fly into the other. The partner of pilot Juan Carlos Castillo told the BBC's Wyre Davies that Mr Castillo was a war veteran who had more than three decades of flying experience.
Manslaughter investigation Azucena Aguero said her partner had flown many times with the TV production company producing the show.
Argentine civil aviation investigators are combing the crash site, looking for mobile phones, documents and other mostly charred items. She said she had "no idea" why the two helicopters had collided in such ideal conditions near the town of Villa Castelli in northern Argentina.
Video of the accident shows the helicopters flying close to each other in clear conditions, before one appears to fly into the other.
French air investigators will join Argentine experts to probe the causes of the crash, in which Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat, boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud died.
French President Francois Hollande said their death was "a cause of immense sadness".
The three sports stars killedThe three sports stars killed
Camille Muffat, 25, won three medals, including gold in the 400m freestyle in the 2012 London Olympics. She retired from competitive swimming in 2014.Camille Muffat, 25, won three medals, including gold in the 400m freestyle in the 2012 London Olympics. She retired from competitive swimming in 2014.
Alexis Vastine, 28, won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the light-welterweight category. He was narrowly beaten in the quarter-finals of the 2012 Games.Alexis Vastine, 28, won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the light-welterweight category. He was narrowly beaten in the quarter-finals of the 2012 Games.
Florence Arthaud, 57, was a hugely accomplished sailor, winning the 1990 Route du Rhum, the prestigious solo Atlantic race. A serious car accident put her in a coma when she was 17.Florence Arthaud, 57, was a hugely accomplished sailor, winning the 1990 Route du Rhum, the prestigious solo Atlantic race. A serious car accident put her in a coma when she was 17.
Profiles of Muffat, Vastine and ArthaudProfiles of Muffat, Vastine and Arthaud
President Hollande is also sending two investigators and two aeronautical advisors to Argentina to assist in finding out what went wrong. In the TV show, participants are flown into rough terrain and filmed while they attempt to find food and shelter.
French Consul General Raphael Trannoy is now in the regional capital of La Rioja, about 300km (200 miles) from the site, to help co-ordinate the investigation. Reports in Argentina said French swimmer Alain Bernard, who was also taking part in Dropped, narrowly escaped the crash after getting off one of the helicopters at the last minute to avoid overloading it.
At the scene: Wyre Davies, BBC News, La Rioja The five other French nationals killed were said to have worked for Adventure Line Productions (ALP), the company making the programme.
The small Argentine provincial town of la Rioja is a long way from anywhere. Nestled at the foot of the Andes, you can see why the producers of a TV show all about survival and the rugged outdoors would want to use this region as a backdrop. They were named as Laurent Sbasnik, Lucie Mei-Dalby, Volodia Guinard, Brice Guilbert and Edouard Gilles.
But on Tuesday, as the French consul general and handful of television teams flew in to the town's rudimentary airstrip, they came not to admire the scenery but to find out why two relatively new helicopters, flying in almost perfect weather conditions, collided in mid-air with such devastating consequences. The pilot of the second helicopter was identified as Roberto Abate.
As a crowd of locals, children and adults alike, looked on through the wire, ambulances brought the bodies of the eight French nationals and the two Argentine helicopter pilots to the mortuary. Helicopter crashes on location
Outside, the partner of one of the pilots spoke to me as she waited patiently to be allowed in to see his body. The surviving crew and members of the show, which airs on French channel TF1, are staying in Argentina for the time being while the investigation is under way, our correspondent says.
"He was a really experienced pilot, he'd spent years in the military and had worked with these [French] producers before," said Azucena del Valle Aguero of pilot Juan Carlos Castillo. Among them are cyclist Jeannie Longo, former Arsenal footballer Sylvain Wiltord, snowboarder Anne-Flore Marxer and former figure skater Philippe Candelor.
As darkness fell the mortuary gates opened to allow in a small convoy bringing the regional governor and French Consul General Raphael Trannoy.
France's yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were the show's celebrities on board at the time of the crash.
Reports in Argentina said French swimmer Alain Bernard, who was also taking part in the filming, narrowly escaped the crash after getting off one of the helicopters at the last minute to avoid overloading it.
On the show, which airs on French channel TF1, participants are flown into rough terrain and filmed while they attempt to find food and shelter.
The five other French nationals killed were said to have worked for Adventure Line Productions (ALP), the company making the programme. They were named as Laurent Sbasnik, Lucie Mei-Dalby, Volodia Guinard, Brice Guilbert and Edouard Gilles.
The two Argentine pilots have been identified as Juan Carlos Castillo and Roberto Abate.
In France, prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation - a standard procedure when its nationals die overseas.In France, prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation - a standard procedure when its nationals die overseas.
'Great athletes''Great athletes'
Tributes have poured in to the dead stars from France and beyond.Tributes have poured in to the dead stars from France and beyond.
"We are shocked by this sad news," said Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee."We are shocked by this sad news," said Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee.
"The world of sport and the Olympic family have lost three of their key members," he said, calling them champions and role models."The world of sport and the Olympic family have lost three of their key members," he said, calling them champions and role models.
British round-the-world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur told the BBC: "Florence's view was that the sea is out there and it's there for the taking. Dame Ellen MacArthur, the British round-the-world yachtswoman, told the BBC she was convinced Florence Arthaud had "inspired many, many people".
"You know, I'm sure she's inspired many, many people," she added.
British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who took bronze when Muffat won gold in the 400m freestyle at the London 2012 Olympics, said she was "terribly saddened".British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who took bronze when Muffat won gold in the 400m freestyle at the London 2012 Olympics, said she was "terribly saddened".
"She was very inspiring, a tough competitor, extremely talented and [a] friendly person." Adlington wrote on her blog. "She was always so genuine and gracious." "She was very inspiring, a tough competitor, extremely talented and [a] friendly person." Adlington wrote on her blog.
Muffat's boyfriend, William Forgues, said she was often called "Miss 100%" because "she won everything".
"She went on this trip so happy. It was her choice to be there," he told reporters.
Helicopter crashes on location