Six fatalities

Fire department helicopter crashes in Brazil

A fire department helicopter in Brazil (symbolic image)(Bild: APA/AFP)

All six occupants of a fire department helicopter have died in a crash in south-eastern Brazil. The helicopter crashed after helping to search for a single-engine aircraft that had crashed in Ouro Preto in the state of Minas Gerais, according to media reports.

"They are victims of an accident while carrying out their noble rescue mission in Ouro Preto. My condolences and prayers are with their families and friends at this difficult time," said the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, on X.

In this post, the crashed aircraft is shown, to which the fire department helicopter was on its way: 

Helicopter discovered near the crash site of the plane
According to the fire department, the helicopter was found after a twelve-hour search in a steep mountain range in a wooded area near the crash site of the single-engine plane. The crew consisted of four firefighters, a nurse and a doctor. The pilot was killed in the accident involving the single-engine plane, which occurred on Friday afternoon. The cause of the two accidents was not yet known.