Eurocopter AS 365N3 Dauphin 2 crash near Mediterranean, east of Algeciras, Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain

The Customs Surveillance Service Dauphin was patrolling the Strait of Gibraltar at night with a commander, co-pilot and customs agent aboard when it went into the sea during an operation to intercept a vessel suspected of drug trafficking. Both pilots got out unaided and recovered the customs agent when they realised he had not surfaced. A Customs Surveillance boat took all three aboard and transferred them to Sotogrande, where the agent was pronounced dead. The helicopter was salvaged and taken to Algeciras. The investigation concluded the cause was an abrupt manoeuvre at low altitude in reduced visibility, not provided for in the service's operating procedures. Final report A-030/2021.