Seven Killed in Dubai Helicopter Crash

Seven people have died in a helicopter crash off the coast of Dubai, the emirate's civil aviation authority said today.

The helicopter was on its way from Dubai International airport to an offshore oilfield when it came down in the Gulf Sea yesterday afternoon.

All those aboard the aircraft - a Briton, an American, two Indians, a Pakistani citizen, a Filipino citizen and a Venezuelan - were killed when it crashed into the deck of the rig, Petrofac, which operates the Dubai government's offshore oilfields, said.

"The helicopter crashed on to the deck of the Resilient, the Maersk jack-up drilling rig," a statement said. "The aircraft then broke up and fell into the sea.

"Immediately following the incident, a fire broke out on the main deck of the drilling rig, which was quickly contained and extinguished."

The firm said the nobody on the rig or the platform was hurt in the incident.

"The relatives of the deceased, who are contractor personnel and are confirmed as non-UAE nationals, are currently being informed," the statement added. "No Petrofac personnel are among the deceased."

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates said it had launched an investigation into the crash.

In a statement, the organization said: "The B212 helicopter ... crashed in the Gulf sea on September 3.

"An investigation is currently being conducted to determine the causes of the accident."

A spokeswoman for the GCAA said the aircraft was owned by a company called Aero Gulf.