Associated Press - September 4, 2008 10:53 AM ET

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - A helicopter carrying foreign contractors has crashed into an oil platform about 40 miles off the coast of Dubai, killing all seven people aboard.

Officials say the helicopter struck the deck of the rig during takeoff, broke apart and plunged into the Persian Gulf.

One American is among the dead. Citizens of the United Kingdom, Pakistan, the Philippines, Venezuela and India were also killed. 5 of the victims were passengers and two were crew members.

The incident has shut down production in 1 of the emirates' four offshore oil fields.

A spokesman for the company that runs the rig says it's unclear when it will be back in service.

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