French police quiz pair after helicopter crash

Two organisers of a French helicopter rally in which a British father and daughter died were questioned by police for leaving the scene of an accident, the British Foreign Office said today.

Two British men were arrested but then released without charge following the accident near Beaune in north west France, a spokesman said.

The men, who have not been named, were arrested on suspicion of leaving an accident where people had been injured.

But following the results of an autopsy, the men were released when it was determined that Rodney Moody, 60, and his 25-year-old daughter Erica, were killed instantly.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘‘Four helicopters were flying in convoy when the others noticed that one was missing.

‘‘One of them flew back and noticed it had crashed. They continued on their journey and informed the authorities.

‘‘On landing the pair were arrested under a French law of leaving the scene of an accident where people had been injured.

‘‘When the autopsy confirmed that the people had died instantly, they were released.’’

Mr Moody from Marlow, Buckinghamshire, made his fortune from his air conditioning company based at High Wycombe.

He had partially retired to concentrate on his passion for helicopters, and was on his way to a beach holiday to Corsica, when the tragedy occurred.

The helicopter is thought to have crashed into a tree on Saturday at 6pm outside the village of Ivry-en-Montagne in wet and misty conditions.