Crash helicopter pilot lost control and hit rig - police source

Dubai: A senior Dubai Police source told Gulf News the crash is believed to have taken place after the captain lost control of the helicopter during take-off and hit a crane on the oil rig.

“He lost balance, which led one of the rotors to hit a crane. The hit pushed the helicopter back, following which the captain lost complete control of the helicopter and hit the rig,'' he said, adding that the engine and gear box were found burned on the rig while other parts of the helicopter were found in the sea.

The fire that broke out on the rig as a result of the crash was extinguished by workers at the rig, he said.

There was no evacuation of the rig and it is functioning as normal, he added.