French prosecutors have requested that the producer and the security officer of the reality television show Dropped be brought to trial for involuntary manslaughter, ten years after a mid-air collision between two helicopters in Argentina killed 10 people, including several French sports stars.
The tragedy occurred on March 9, 2015, during the filming of the survival reality show scheduled to air via French broadcaster TF1. Among the victims were sailor Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimming champion Camille Muffat, and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine.
Findings of the investigation
According to the final report of Argentina’s Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Board (JIAAC), two Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopters, registered LQ-CGK and LQ-FJQ, collided in flight while flying in close proximity near Villa Castelli, La Rioja province. Both helicopters were destroyed, and all on board were killed instantly.
Investigators found no evidence of technical malfunction. Instead, the report pointed to a combination of human and organizational factors:
- Risky proximity flight: The helicopters were flying close together for aerial filming without formal procedures or training for such maneuvers.
- Visual limitations: Pilots likely lost visual contact due to blind spots and glare, leaving no time for evasive action.
- Regulatory gaps: The aircraft were operated as ‘public aircraft’, exempt from stricter commercial aviation safety standards, despite being used for a private production.
- Operational pressures: Delays in filming and pressure to capture specific footage may have contributed to a hazardous operating environment.
The investigation led to safety recommendations urging Argentina’s aviation authorities to tighten oversight of provincial aviation operations, implement standardized procedures, and require formal risk assessments for aerial filming or similar non-routine flights.
Prosecutors’ arguments
The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that Adventure Line Productions and its security manager “committed errors of a nature to incur criminal liability,” notably failing to brief both pilots together to ensure the planned flight maneuvers were fully understood, and not enforcing compliance with existing aeronautical safety rules. Prosecutors have requested that other individuals initially charged in the case now be dismissed.