A helicopter carrying six people crashed into the Douro River in northern Portugal, leaving five police officers missing. The aircraft, involved in firefighting operations, went down near Cambres, close to the city of Lamego, on Friday afternoon.
The firefighting pilot was rescued by a nearby tourist boat and is reported to be in stable condition. However, the five other occupants, all members of the GNR police force’s emergency protection unit (UEPS), are still unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped underwater.
The crash occurred around 12:30 p.m., triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation. Divers and emergency personnel have been deployed to the area in a desperate effort to find the missing officers.
GNR chief Mafalda Gomes de Almeida confirmed the rescue of the pilot but noted that the search for the others is ongoing. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and an investigation has been launched to determine what led to the incident.
The crash has deeply affected the nation, with widespread concern for the missing officers. Authorities are using all available resources in their search and rescue efforts, hoping to find the officers as soon as possible.
