In a note of condolence, the Minister of Internal Administration and the Secretaries of State, Telmo Correia and Paulo Simões Ribeiro, addressed “a word of solidarity and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the five GNR military personnel.”
So far, the bodies of four GNR military personnel have been located, while another member who was also on the helicopter remains missing.
“Each of these military personnel, through their dedication, pride, and commitment to their function and mission, is recognized by all as someone who decided to guide their life for the benefit of others, and to whom Portugal owes, under these circumstances, a heartfelt tribute and collective recognition,” the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) statement reads.
The ministry also extended “wishes for a speedy recovery to the helicopter pilot who was injured as a result of this fateful and terrible accident” and left “a word of solidarity and gratitude” to the GNR and “all the personnel who are part of it and who, daily, give their best for the safety of citizens, and the safeguarding of the democratic rule of law.”
Margarida Blasco was present at the accident site today to “monitor the operations and share words of comfort and solidarity with the victims’ families in this dramatic hour,” the MAI also recalled in the statement.
The minister also expressed, on site, a “deep gratitude and recognition to the teams involved in the search and rescue work.”
The forest firefighting helicopter crashed into the Douro River around 12:50 PM today, near the town of Samodães, Lamego, and was carrying a pilot and a team of five military personnel from the Emergency Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPC) who were returning from a fire in the municipality of Baião.
The aircraft pilot was rescued alive, with only minor injuries.
So far, the bodies of four GNR military personnel have been located, while another member remains missing, and the search continues.
The causes of the accident are not yet known.
The Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Aircraft Accidents and Railway Accidents (GPIAAF), a Portuguese State body, has a team on the ground investigating the accident.
The crashed helicopter, an AS350 – Écureuil model, is operated by HTA Helicopters, based in Loulé, Algarve.
The search for the victim was interrupted and will resume at sunrise, although searches along the riverbanks continue.
