2 competitors die in high-speed powerboat crash in Dubai; world championship race called off

2 competitors killed in powerboat crash in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Two competitors have died in a world championship powerboat race in Dubai after a high-speed crash.

The two killed Friday were driver Mohammed Majid Al Muhairi of United Arab Emirates and throttleman Jean-Marc Sanchez of France.

They lost control of their boat, Victory 1, which flipped and landed upside down. They were airlifted to a hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

The Dubai Grand Prix was called off following the accident. This was the first race of the final round of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.

Muhairi, 34, was the European Class One champion in 2009. Sanchez, 48, was part of the 2007 World Class One champion team. They were eight points behind Fazza 3 for the world title.