Spanish officer dies in helicopter crash

Two other customs agents who were also on board the helicopter survived the crash, when it went down near Sotogrande, a union for Spain's Civil Guard police force said in a tweet. The cause of the crash is under investigation, it added.

The helicopter will be brought to the surface so its black box can be retrieved to try to determine what caused the aircraft to go down, Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero, told reporters. "It is too soon to suggest a hypothesis. All hypotheses are open," she explained.

Ministers express condolences

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the agent's family and thanked security forces for their work.Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo also expressed his condolences to the agency's family and sent his ‘best wishes for a speedy recovery’ to the two survivors.

Spain's southern coast is a key entry point for drugs bound for Europe due to its proximity to Morocco, a major hashish producer andmugglers often use speedboats to make runs from Morocco.

In June, a firefighting helicopter west of Edmonton, Canada, crashed in a remote area only accessible by air.