Pilot responsible for 2014 Atlantis crash

A report has declared that the private helicopter, an Airbus EC-130 B4, that crashed in 2014 with two people on board was as a result of the pilot operating in "a negligent and reckless manner".

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) released a report last week (January 5, 2016) detailing the circumstances surrounding the crash on January 22, 2014, at Atlantis, The Palm.

The report adds that the incident took place during the trip from the hotel to Dubai International airport where the pilot undertook an "aerobatic" manoevre that is against the GCAA regulations and the EC 130 B4's operating manual. 

Speaking to Hotelier Middle East in 2014, a spokesperson for Atlantis The Palm said: "Atlantis The Palm can confirm that an accident involving a helicopter at Palm Jumeirah has occurred. An investigation by Dubai Police and Civil Aviation is in progress to determine the circumstances and causes relating to the accident that took place on Wednesday January 22, at the Civil Aviation approved helipad. No guests were involved in the incident and operations at Atlantis, The Palm were not affected. A report by Dubai Police and Civil Aviation will be issued after the investigation is complete."

The report also added that the incident took place because of "unforced skills-based errors of the handling pilot" and "poor pilot judgment of the aircraft handling requirements for the intended manoeuvre".

The GCAA noted that the objective of the investigation was to prevent such accidents and incidents, and not to pass on blame or liability to those involved. The report put forward 10 safety recommendations to prevent such incidents from taking place in the future.