“It is with sadness that I learned of the tragic accident that occurred today in the Douro River, in Portugal. My thoughts go out to the families and loved ones of the brave soldiers who lost their lives while trying to protect others,” emphasized the Maltese official in a message written in Portuguese on her X social network account.
Metsola also stressed that “Europe will be forever grateful for their altruism.”
The forest firefighting helicopter crashed into the Douro River around 12:50 today, near the town of Samodães, Lamego. It was carrying a pilot and a team of five soldiers from the Emergency Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPC) who were returning from a fire in the municipality of Baião.
The aircraft’s pilot was rescued alive with only minor injuries.
So far, the bodies of four GNR (National Republican Guard) soldiers 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 organization, 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.
