Eurocopter AS350 Antartica Helicopter Crash Kills 4

The “2010 Antarctica Helicopter Crash” occurred on the 28 October, 2010 approximately 100 km from the French research base Dumont d’Urville Station. All 4 aboard the chopper (1 pilot, 3 passengers) were killed.

The Eurocopter AS350 had taken off from the French research ship L’Astrolabe approximately 370 kilometers north-east of the Dumont d’Urville Research Station, however contact was lost, and a distress beacon was activated later that day, triggering a rescue response including the Royal Australian Air Force and American personnel out of nearby McMurdo Station.

Bad weather hampered rescue efforts but a RAAF C-130 Hercules spotted the crash site with at least 3 bodies seen at the scene on the Friday.  A French helicopter with a doctor on-board from Dumont d’Urville touched down soon later, and confirmed all 4 on board were deceased. This was later confirmed by the AMSA.