There are exactly 30 years, the interpreter of The Aziza disappeared in a helicopter crash over the road Paris-Dakar. Back on that tragic day, which cost the life of one of the greatest singers of his generation.
On 14 January 1986 the Paris -Dakar mourns. Thierry Sabine, founder of the competition, the singer Daniel Balavoine, the pilot and two passengers, including a journalist are killed in a terrible helicopter accident.
What has really happened? Why has the helicopter crashed into the desert dunes in the Sahel? Back on that tragic day, which cost the life of one of the greatest singers of his generation.
Four in the morning, the 14th stage of athletic competition begins. The test, which connects Niamey-Rharous-Gourma (Mali) is 843 km long. The climate is capricious, a sandstorm rises. Daniel Balavoine who had played the rally as a pilot in 1983 and 1985, was not participating this time in the race but was present for humanitarian purposes.
“Daniel had come to Africa to the operation Water pumps for Africa and above all he had to leave the rally the next day.”
The morning started well, Thierry Sabine and interpreter of The Aziza meet at the Niamey airport to leave for the city of Gao . Arrived at 10: 30 pm they have with the Malian Governor about the water pumps. The discussions come alive. The authorities are blocking the aid agency trucks heart of Paris that can not sail to Mali. The clock is ticking, ringing 14 hours.
Daniel Balavoine and the creator of the Dakar then leave together to kick a football match between the team Gao Mopti organized as part of the Paris-Dakar. The white helicopter Thierry Sabine, led by François-Xavier Bagnoud, is ready to join the race but the ceremony drags especially as the governor who made the trip, the singer took the opportunity to continue negotiations.
The helicopter took off two hours later towards bivouac Gourma-Rharous, finish of the stage is 250 kilometers away. On board, Thierry Sabine invited the journalist Sunday newspaper Nathalie Odent, RTL radio technician Jean-Paul Le Fur. Jean-Luc Roy, motorsport journalist, was also to join the crew. But at the last minute gives his place to Daniel Balavoine.
“We met with Daniel. He asked me if it did not bother me to take my place in the chopper. We still exchange a few words and I close the door … “
The climatic conditions are deteriorating. The night begins to fall. It is 18h, the helicopter lands once in Gossi from the second timed event. Despite the gusts of wind, they leave in the air.
The pilot decided to land twenty-two kilometers before the destination of Gourma-Rharous. Any progress is now impossible. Flying at low altitude and swept by the storms, the disoriented tackle gear three times, with the front of his skates, the top of a dune. Rapidly destabilized the helicopter tilts forward and decays over nearly 150 meters after several loops in the desert. It is then 7:20 p.m.: all the passengers died instantly.
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