French MP and billionaire Olivier Dassault has died in a helicopter crash in north-western France. The accident occurred on Sunday evening in Normandy where he had a holiday home, according to police sources, as was reported by BBC.
In his tribute, President Emmanuel Macron said Dassault loved France and his death is "a great loss".
Dassault was the son of industrialist Serge Dassault, whose group builds Rafale warplanes and owns Le Figaro newspaper. He was elected to the National Assembly - France's lower house of parliament - in 2002 and represented the Oise area of northern France.
The MP, from the centre-right Republicans, was considered the 361st richest man in the world - worth an estimated €6.3bn ($7.3bn; £5.2bn) according to Forbes.
"Olivier Dassault loved France. Captain of industry, lawmaker, local elected official, reserve commander in the air force: during his life, he never ceased to serve our country, to value its assets. His sudden death is a great loss," Mr Macron said on Twitter.
The helicopter carrying Dassault crashed near Deauville at about 18:00 (1700 GMT). The pilot has also died. No-one else was on board. The causes of the helicopter crash have not yet been reported, rescuers are working at the scene.
Investigators with France's civil aviation authority said in a tweet that the helicopter, an AS350 Écureuil, had crashed "on take-off" from private land.
Richard Ferrand, president of the National Assembly, said, "I am thinking of his family and loved ones who must feel terrible pain." Dassault was the father of three children.
Valerie Pecresse, a conservative politician, tweeted: "Great sadness at the news of the sudden passing of Olivier Dassault. A businessman, but also a renowned photographer, he had a passion for politics in his blood."