Helicopter Recovery Operation Underway in Douro River

A specialized vessel equipped with a crane has been deployed to the Douro River in Portugal to facilitate the recovery of a helicopter that crashed on Friday. The operation, coordinated with maritime police, civil protection, and firefighters, is taking place near Samodães, Lamego, in the Viseu district. Divers are searching for the missing GNR soldier, who was part of a five-member crew returning from a wildfire in Baião. Four bodies have been recovered, and the helicopter pilot survived with minor injuries. The removal of the helicopter will allow investigators to determine if the missing soldier may be trapped within the wreckage. The cause of the accident remains under investigation by a team from the Accident Prevention and Investigation Office for Aircraft and Railway Accidents.