The nationality and identity of the passenger had given rise to speculation and rumors. But the helicopter crash that occurred on November 25, 2022 near Nice and which cost the life of Vyacheslav Taran, a 53-year-old Russian expert in cryptocurrencies, would not be the result of any external intervention. The aircraft, an Airbus Helicopters H130, crashed in Villefranche-sur-Mer due to a pilot error caused by cocaine use and sea mist, according to the first conclusions of the Accident Investigation Office (BEA), revealed this Tuesday by Nice morning and confirmed to 20 minutes by the Monacair company.
“This is what was reported to us by the gendarmerie this Tuesday morning,” explained a spokesperson for the Monegasque company. On the BEA side, we are currently only discussing part of the elements. “The report is not finalized. Its publication is near [et prévue pour la fin octobre ou début novembre]. However, I can confirm the piloting under the influence of drugs,” a manager told 20 minutes. Cocaine was indeed detected during the analysis of the hair of the 34-year-old man who was at the controls of this Lausanne-Monaco flight, and who also died in the crash.
“Hidden cocaine users”
Conclusions which led the company involved in the accident to react. In a press release, Monacair specifies that the pilot, employed by the company for a year at the time of the crash, “had been subjected to two saliva tests” which were negative. The company ensures that it has complied with “European regulations [AIR OPS] » which “requires operators to take appropriate measures to prevent a seafarer from entering board under the influence of alcohol and psychotropic substances”.
But, in light of this accident, she encourages additional measures to detect “hidden cocaine users” who “represent a risk to flight safety”. “While waiting for specific provisions to become mandatory”, Monacair indicates that it has decided “to include in its charter of good conduct the obligatory mention for all pilots to carry out a hair test every six months”. A procedure which will also be “systematically requested when recruiting new pilots”, supports the company.
The BEA’s final conclusions should make it possible to understand the exact circumstances of the accident and in particular how a cloud of sea mist could have misled the pilot while the aircraft, on approach to Monaco, was flying at low altitude.