Chega will demand a “full and independent audit” of the company responsible for servicing the helicopter that crashed into the Douro River, killing five NTC soldiers.
“Chega will take a firm stand and demand a full and independent audit of the company responsible for the maintenance of the helicopter involved in the accident. This audit should determine in detail whether all maintenance and safety procedures were followed in accordance with established protocols,” the party indicates.
In a statement sent to reporters, Chega said the results of the review should be “publicly disclosed, ensuring full transparency of the process.”
The party led by André Ventura says the helicopter crash in the Lamego region “could have been the result of a technical failure in the equipment” and believes that “this discovery raises serious concerns about the safety and maintenance of aircraft used in missions of critical importance to society and national security.”
“It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that aircraft are in perfect working order and that all safety measures are strictly observed,” says the party led by André Ventura.
According to Chegi, “it is unacceptable that technical failures occur in equipment whose reliability is critical to protecting the lives of our soldiers and citizens.”
“We cannot allow the safety of our soldiers to be compromised by failures that could have been avoided,” he said.
A forest firefighting helicopter crashed into the Douro River on Friday near the town of Samodaines, Lamego, carrying a pilot and a group of five soldiers from the Emergency Protection and Assistance Unit (UEPC) who were returning from a fire in the municipality of Bayão.
The pilot of the plane was rescued alive with only minor injuries. The bodies of four NTC soldiers were also found on Friday. A fifth body was found on Saturday afternoon after an intensive search at the site.
On Saturday, the body responsible for investigating the crash of the firefighting helicopter in the Douro River, the General Aviation and Rail Accidents Prevention and Investigation Authority (GPIAAF), said it had already heard the pilot and witnesses and had reached a conclusion “on the nature of the incident at the field stage.”
“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
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.