Briton dies in Dubai helicopter crash

Updated 10.23 Thu Sep 04 2008

A Briton was among seven people killed in a helicopter crash off the coast of Dubai.

Officials said the helicopter, which was travelling from Dubai's main international airport to an offshore oil field in the Gulf, was carrying an American, a Briton, a Pakistani, a Filipino, a Venezuelan and two Indians.

"All passengers and crew were killed in this tragedy, including one American, one British, two Indians, one Pakistani, one Filipino and one Venezuelan" - GCAA statement

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

In a statement the GCAA said: "The B212 helicopter carrying seven persons crashed in the Gulf sea on September 3 west of Dubai Airport.

"All passengers and crew were killed in this tragedy, including one American, one British, two Indians, one Pakistani, one Filipino and one Venezuelan.

"The helicopter was flying from Dubai International Airport to one of (the) oilfields in the Gulf Sea.

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

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

She added that it was not known how long the investigation would take but a press conference would be held to announce the results.

The Foreign Office said: "We are urgently looking into the reports."