Joël Rakotomalala

Joël Rakotomalala (Toliara Province, 29 March 1929 — Antsirabe, 30 July 1976) was a Malagasy military officer and politician.

Biography
Colonel of the Madagascar People’s Armed Forces, he was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Madagascar from 13 January 1976 to his death, under the presidency of Admiral Didier Ratsiraka. He was a member of the Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar. He died in the accident of a Aérospatiale Alouette III transport helicopter during a short flight with the chief of staff Alphonse Rakotonirainy on 30 July 1976, the last month of the presence of the French Armed Forces in Madagascar. He was replaced on 12 August as Prime Minister by Justin Rakotoniaina.

The accident
The maximum seven-seat transport helicopter, with more than 40 kilograms of luggage, took off from Antananarivo on 30 July 1976 for several successive flights. It crashed at the third stage, around noon. The crash was caused either by sabotage or mechanical failure, in view of the ASN database on the safety of Aérospatiale Alouette III.