2009 Gabonese helicopter crash
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Gabonese helicopter crash occurred in the Atlantic Ocean
off the Africa
n country of Gabon
at 8:08 p.m. on January 17, 2009. Ten soldiers were in the Eurocopter AS 532 when it crashed, leaving eight military personnel dead. Three soldiers initially survived the French
military helicopter crash which occurred shortly after take-off from the amphibious assault ship
the FS Foudre
. One of the rescued soldiers died from injuries at Libreville Hospital
. It was reported that the helicopter came down off the coastal city of Nyonie between Port-Gentil
and Libreville
during a joint exercise with Gabonese troops. The cause of the crash is not known.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
immediately ordered his Minister of Defence
, Hervé Morin
, to fly to Gabon to oversee the rescue mission. Morin viewed rescue efforts on the FS Foudre, and visited friends and relatives of the missing at Camp De Gaulle.
After the crash, the FS Foudre was the first ship at the scene, and picked up some of the injured. Two helicopters, several ships, as well as underwater robots were sent by the French oil company Total S.A.
to assist with rescue efforts. On January 18, the wreckage of the helicopter was discovered 35 metres (114.8 ft) underwater. Gabon Interior Minister Andre Mba Obame
said, "Gabon is doing all that it can to help with the search."
regularly conducts military exercises with the Gabonese army
. French presence is known to have reduced tensions amongst 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
.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
off the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n country of Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
at 8:08 p.m. on January 17, 2009. Ten soldiers were in the Eurocopter AS 532 when it crashed, leaving eight military personnel dead. Three soldiers initially survived the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
military helicopter crash which occurred shortly after take-off from the amphibious assault ship
Amphibious assault ship
An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault...
the FS Foudre
Foudre (L 9011)
The Foudre is an amphibious assault ship of the French Navy, the twelfth vessel to bear the name, and lead ship of her class.She served during the war in Yugoslavia, and has been the central element of Operation Licorne in Côte d'Ivoire....
. One of the rescued soldiers died from injuries at Libreville Hospital
Libreville Hospital
Libreville Hospital is the most important hospital in the African country of Gabon. Located in the nation's capital of Libreville, the hospital has an accident and emergency department which serves much of the country.The hospital treated soldiers during the 2009 Gabonese helicopter crash....
. It was reported that the helicopter came down off the coastal city of Nyonie between Port-Gentil
Port-Gentil
Port-Gentil or Mandji is the second-largest city of Gabon and a leading seaport. It is the center of Gabon's petroleum and timber industries. Although it lies inshore, the nearby mainland is a remote forest area and it is not connected by road to the rest of the nation...
and Libreville
Libreville
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
during a joint exercise with Gabonese troops. The cause of the crash is not known.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
immediately ordered his Minister of Defence
Minister of Defence (France)
The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France....
, Hervé Morin
Hervé Morin
Hervé Morin is a French politician, leader of the New Center party and a former French Minister of Defence.-Member of National Assembly:...
, to fly to Gabon to oversee the rescue mission. Morin viewed rescue efforts on the FS Foudre, and visited friends and relatives of the missing at Camp De Gaulle.
After the crash, the FS Foudre was the first ship at the scene, and picked up some of the injured. Two helicopters, several ships, as well as underwater robots were sent by the French oil company Total S.A.
Total S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
to assist with rescue efforts. On January 18, the wreckage of the helicopter was discovered 35 metres (114.8 ft) underwater. Gabon Interior Minister Andre Mba Obame
André Mba Obame
André Mba Obame is a Gabonese politician. After serving as an adviser to President Omar Bongo in the 1980s, he was a minister in the government of Gabon from 1990 to 1991 and again from 1997 to 2009; during that time, he was identified with the reformist wing of the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party...
said, "Gabon is doing all that it can to help with the search."
French presence in Gabon
France has maintained a military base in Gabon since its independence in 1960. The French militaryMilitary of France
The French Armed Forces encompass the French Army, the French Navy, the French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title "chef des armées" . The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who...
regularly conducts military exercises with the Gabonese army
Military of Gabon
The African country of Gabon has a small, professional military of about 5,000 personnel, divided into army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and national police. Gabonese forces are oriented to the defense of the country and have not been trained for an offensive role...
. French presence is known to have reduced tensions amongst 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
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
.