Eight cast members from a reality TV show were killed Monday when two helicopters collided mid-air over Argentina, according to multiple media reports. Two pilots also died.
The cast members — all French nationals — were filming a survival series called “Dropped” in the rugged mountains of the La Rioja province of the South American country, reported the Guardian.
“Apparently, the two helicopters collided as they were filming. There are no survivors,” provincial spokesman Horacio Alarcon said. Weather conditions were reportedly good and the reason for the crash is still unknown.
Among the dead are champion sailor Florence Arthaud, Olympic gold medalist swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine. In addition to the contestants, two Argentine pilots were killed.
“Dropped,” which was to air on French television channel TF1, involved eight sports stars being dropped into inhospitable environments for the survival-themed reality series.
Shooting began in late February in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of South America in the glacial landscape of Patagonia, and then moved to the mountainous La Rioja region.