On March 9, 2015, a helicopter accident during the filming of the show Dropped claimed the lives of ten people, including navigator Florence Arthaud, Nice swimmer Camille Muffat, and boxer Alexis Vastine. Ten years later, the Paris prosecutor’s office is requesting a trial for involuntary manslaughter against the production company Adventure Line Productions and a safety officer.
The case dates back to March 2015. Two Écureuil helicopters collided mid-flight before crashing in the province of La Rioja, Argentina. They were carrying contestants and crew members of the show Dropped, produced for TF1, which never aired.
The Paris prosecutor’s office currently believes that the production and a safety officer committed errors leading to the tragedy. According to its indictment, issued in late August, no briefing was organized before the flight. The second pilot, who arrived late, was not involved in the preparation. A meeting should have clarified the maneuver desired by the production, which aimed to film the aircraft in close flight.
The prosecutor’s office also reproaches the organization for not verifying the compliance with applicable aeronautical rules. These failures are said to be the cause of a collision that remains, to this day, the deadliest in the history of reality television.
For the families, the announcement of these requisitions constitutes an important step. “The families finally have an answer. It is both very late, but at the same time, it is a relief. They will now pay close attention to the decision of the investigating judge”, stated Me Solenn Le Tutour, lawyer for several relatives of the victims. The judge must now decide if the accused will be sent to trial.
The prosecutor’s office has, however, requested a dismissal for the former leaders of the production company, also indicted during the investigation.
A lengthy legal procedure in France and Argentina
The day after the accident, two investigations were opened, one in Argentina, the other in France. The French investigation, conducted by the collective accidents division of the Paris court, took years to establish responsibilities.
Adventure Line Productions, producer of programs like Koh-Lanta or Fort Boyard, has already been sanctioned civilly. In 2021, the Versailles Court of Appeal found “inexcusable fault” and condemned the company to compensate the family of a cameraman who died in the accident.
The criminal justice system, slower, had so far not led to a trial. The prosecutor’s requisitions thus open up a new perspective, ten years after the tragedy.
The tragedy had stirred strong emotions in France. Florence Arthaud, nicknamed “the little fiancée of the Atlantic,” was one of the most popular figures in sailing. The Nice native Camille Muffat, an Olympic medalist in swimming, represented a promising generation of athletes. Alexis Vastine, a boxer, had already experienced several sporting disappointments and saw in this show the opportunity for a fresh start. Alongside them, five production members and two Argentine pilots also lost their lives.
The defense of Adventure Line Productions has not responded to the prosecutor’s requests. The families, meanwhile, are now awaiting the decision of the investigating judge, who will determine if the case will be sent to a criminal court.
A filming intended to launch a new reality show
Dropped was supposed to air in the summer of 2015 on TF1. The concept was based on a simple principle: drop athletes and celebrities in isolated areas, then film their return to civilization in less than 72 hours.
The project was abruptly halted after the crash. The footage shot will never be aired. The accident also marked a turning point in the consideration of safety in reality TV productions, often filmed under extreme conditions.
Ten years later, the prospect of a trial serves as a reminder that the tragedy continues to weigh on the victims’ families. The prosecutor’s requisitions are just one step. The final decision lies with the investigating judge.
