In a statement sent to the Lusa agency, the Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Aircraft Accidents and Railway Accidents (GPIAAF) says that it “has concluded the essential part of the field investigation work on the accident” that occurred on Friday near Samodães, Lamego, in the Viseu district. The accident caused the death of five GNR military personnel from the Emergency Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPC) who were returning from a fire in the municipality of Baião.
“Having collected evidence at the accident site, including interviews with the pilot [the sole survivor] and witnesses, as well as the essential wreckage of the aircraft, which is in transit to the GPIAAF investigation hangar at Viseu aerodrome, on Sunday morning there will still be an attempt to locate and recover some secondary debris,” the public body indicates.
The GPIAAF adds that “in accordance with international legislation and practices,” the interested international aeronautical authorities were notified on Friday, “which appointed experts to cooperate with the investigation, including from the aircraft manufacturer, who will participate in the examination of the aircraft wreckage.”
“The GPIAAF intends to publish an informative note at the end of next Tuesday, reporting on the initial findings and the path to be followed by the investigation,” the statement also reads.
The crashed helicopter, an AS350 – Écureuil model, was operated by HTA Helicopters, based in Loulé, Algarve.
The aircraft fell into the Douro River at 12:36 on Friday, near the town of Samodães, Lamego municipality, with six occupants: the pilot and five military personnel from the Emergency Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPC), who were returning from fighting a rural fire in Gestaçô, Baião municipality.
The pilot, the only survivor, was rescued from the Douro River with injuries and transported to the hospital.
On Friday, the bodies of four GNR military personnel were located. The fifth was found this afternoon after intense searches in the area.
