French billionaire Olivier Dassault killed in helicopter crash

The French billionaire and Conservative MP Olivier Dassault died today at 69 when his helicopter crashed in the north of France, lamented the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.

Legislator of the conservative Los Republicanos party since 2002, Dassault was at the 361 position on the list of the richest people in the world., with his two brothers and his sister. He left his post on the board of directors of Dassault because of his political role, to avoid conflicts of interest.

The aircraft, in a private flight, he commands during a trip to the Calvados department, near Deauville, where Dassault had a holiday home. The pilot of the plane was also deceased, Europapress.

The eldest of four sons of industrial magnate Serge Dassault – whose group builds Rafale fighter jets and owns the newspaper Le Figaro was distinguished by political figures such as Macron, who thanked his “service to our country” in a message posted on Twitter.

Olivier Dassault loved France. Captain of industry, deputy, local councilor, reserve commander in the air force: throughout his life, he never ceased to serve our country, to promote its strengths. His sudden death is a great loss. Think about his family and loved ones.

– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 7, 2021

“Olivier Dassault loved France. Captain of industry, legislator, fLocal trade unionist, air force reserve commander: in his life, he has never ceased to serve our country, valuing its strengths. His sudden death is a great loss. I accompany his family and loved ones with my thoughts, ”tweeted the president.

Civil Aviation has reported that the Aerospatiale AS350 Squirrel helicopter crashed “on takeoff”, carried out “from private land”. The incident occurred around 5:50 p.m. and an investigation has already been opened.

“We will deeply regret Olivier Dassault, eminent business leader, a big-hearted deputy and defender of the industry,” tweeted Damien Abad, president of the Republicans in the National Assembly.

The Minister of Justice, Ric Dupond-Moretti, said he was “very sad”. “The Republic brutally loses one of its great servants. All my thoughts are with his family, that of the pilot, his relatives and all his inconsolable collaborators”, tweet.

The former president of the National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen, also praised Dassault, “representative of the third generation of a great and illustrious French family”.