On Monday, divers discovered the tail of a firefighting helicopter that crashed into the Doura in the Lamego area, which will be removed from the river on Tuesday, the commander of the Northern Marine Police said.
“Today’s work allowed us to find the tail of the plane and some electronic equipment, as well as a bag that could be used to collect water to put out fires,” Rui Silva Lampreia said in a statement to Lusa.
The commander added that the rotor is located in the tail section of the aircraft, a part considered important for the investigation into the cause of the crash that killed five soldiers from the GNR’s Emergency Protection and Assistance Unit (UEPC) on Friday.
Therefore, he added, it is assumed that when the tail of the device is removed from the river, this part will also be found.
The operation to remove the tail from the bottom of the bed is expected to take place at 10am on Tuesday, but an underwater search will also be underway between 8am and 12pm to look for other equipment – a navigation computer – that experts say is important to the investigation, the General Aviation and Rail Accident Prevention and Investigation Authority (GPIAAF) said.
Rui Silva Lampreia said that “since today was a successful day in the work done”, the divers will return to the Douro River on Tuesday.
In information provided this morning, the commander said the operation would end at 13:00 this Monday.
The team will be reduced to four members of the Marine Police Forensic Diving Team and two vessels.
The wreckage of the aircraft is being transported to the hangar for investigations of the General Aviation and Rail Accidents Prevention and Investigation Authority (GPIAAF) at Viseu airfield.
Boat traffic in the area will continue with the restrictions already in place, i.e. one vessel at a time, low speed and supervision by marine police.
On board at the time of the accident, which occurred in the Samodains area, in the municipality of Lamego (Viseu), were five GNR UEPC personnel and the pilot, the only survivor.
The bodies of four soldiers were found on Friday, and a fifth fatality was discovered on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday, the body responsible for investigating the Douro River firefighting helicopter crash, the GPIAAF, said it had heard from the pilot and witnesses and had completed “the bulk of the field work phase.”
“The GPIAAF intends to publish an information note late next Tuesday explaining the initial findings and the path forward for further investigation,” it said in a statement sent to Lusa on the same day.
The accident helicopter, an AS350 — Écureuil, was operated by HTA Helicópteros based in Loulé, Algarve, and the accident occurred while returning to the Armamar Aircraft Centre.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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