Millionaire helicopter crash 'was pilot error'

A helicopter crash in which a millionaire Mayfair lawyer died was caused by pilot error, an air accident report said today, ending speculation that he was murdered.

Stephen Curtis, 45, was being flown to his Dorset castle last year when the craft came down in heavy rain. It was a mile away from Bournemouth airport when pilot Max Radford, 35, radioed for help as he fought the controls.

It had been suggested Mr Curtis was killed because of his international oil deal connections, and that he feared Russian agents were following him. He has since been named in a US lawsuit brought by investors who say they lost up to $1billion after Russian oil giant Yukos collapsed.