Six people were on board the aircraft. Only the pilot was rescued alive, but bodies were found inside the aircraft. The Portuguese Prime Minister has been at the scene.
A Firefighters helicopter crashed this Friday in the Douro River, in Peso da Régua. The alert was given at 12:36, according to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.
The aircraft was part of operations to combat a rural fire in Gestaçô, Baião. In a statement, Civil defense reported that the aircraft “suffered an accident, forcing it to fall into the Duero River in Portugalnear the town of Samodães”. Several resources were mobilized to the scene and the pilot was rescued alive. The victim was evaluated by a medical team and his life is not in danger, having been transferred to the Vila Real hospital.
According to the latest report from the authorities, they have located four corpses. The helicopter this submerged in the river. A GNR soldier is still missing. Search and rescue operations are currently underway.
Dozens of workers are at the scene, including three diving teams, a drone team and several boats. Teams of INEM psychologists have been used to support the families of the victims.
He prime minister Luis Montenegro is at the scene and the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has also been supervising the rescue operation.
A source from the Air and Railway Accident Office (GPIAAF) told the Portuguese news agency Lusa that it will send a team to the scene to begin investigating the accident.
