Villa Castelli, Argentina---An Argentine judge was to start taking testimony Thursday over a helicopter crash that killed 10 people during a reality TV shoot, including three of France's best-known athletes.
There were no survivors in the deadly collision between two helicopters in a remote area of Argentina where the reality series "Dropped" was being filmed.
The judge assigned to the case, Daniel Herrera, said he would start by questioning other people involved in the production and that they could then return home in 48 hours.
"Dropped" features sports stars who are taken blindfolded into rugged environments and given 72 hours to get to a place where they could charge a cellphone.
Monday's crash of two choppers killed Olympic champion swimmer Camille Muffat, yachtswoman Florence Arthaud and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine, as well as five French television crew members and two Argentine pilots.
Initial investigations indicate the crash was caused by human error, said Roberto Ludenas, spokesman for the provincial government.
"The helicopters were in excellent condition," he told AFP.
Herrera traveled to the town of Villa Castelli near the crash site in the northwestern province of La Rioja, where Argentine investigators were combing through charred wreckage.
He said he will speak to five other cast members of the show and the film crew who were not involved in the crash, which was the deadliest in the history of reality TV, which often features celebrities in adventure settings.
French coroners have been allowed to come in and try to identify the remains of the dead athletes.
"It is tough because the bodies are burned beyond recognition," the judge said.
Officials from France's BEA air accident investigation authority have traveled to Argentina to assist in the probe.
Two BEA investigators were accompanied by a representative of Airbus Helicopters, the company that made the two Eurocopters involved in the crash, and another from engine manufacturer Turbomeca.
AFP
