A French Gendarmerie Airbus Helicopters H145 went down in the Massif de Lorris near Bray-Saint-Aignan during an operational flight on June 7, 2026.
The accident took place at approximately 16:30 local time as the crew searched for a missing vulnerable person in the Loiret region.
Adjudant Dorian Larigaudrie from the Châteauneuf-sur-Loire brigade lost his life in the crash. The other two crew members, operating from the Villacoublay air base, received injuries, with one in critical condition.
This incident involved a standard law enforcement aerial support mission typical for the Gendarmerie Nationale.
The forces aériennes de la gendarmerie utilize the H145 model for its versatility in reconnaissance and rapid deployment over difficult terrain such as the Orléans Forest.
French Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez addressed the nation following the event.
"This afternoon, Adjudant Dorian Larigaudrie of the Châteauneuf-sur-Loire gendarmerie brigade lost his life while on a helicopter mission for the operational search of a missing person with his comrades from the air forces of the gendarmerie of Villacoublay, when their aircraft crashed in the forest of Bray-Saint-Aignan," he said.
"I express my deep sadness at this tragic accident and offer my sincere condolences to the family of Adjudant Dorian Larigaudrie and his comrades as well as to all the military personnel of the gendarmerie," Nuñez added.
The loss represents a significant blow to the local brigade and highlights the inherent dangers faced by personnel in airborne law enforcement roles.
Aviation authorities have secured the crash site and initiated a thorough probe into the factors contributing to the helicopter's descent.
The Airbus Helicopters H145, known for its reliability in police configurations, features advanced avionics suited for low-level operations in search scenarios.
Recovery operations required coordination between military and civilian emergency services in the remote forest location.
Details released by sources including the Aviation Safety Network confirm the aircraft registration and operational status at the time.
Express.co.uk provided ongoing updates as the story developed on the day of the crash.
The Gendarmerie continues to rely on such rotary-wing assets for missions where time-sensitive searches can mean the difference in outcomes for missing persons cases.
Further information on the investigation progress is expected in the coming days from official channels.
Safety protocols are being reviewed to prevent future incidents.
