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.

In his tribute, President Emmanuel Macron said Dassault, 69, loved France and his death would be “a great loss”.

Dassault was the son of industrialist Serge Dassault, whose group builds Rafale war planes 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.