Argentina’s western province of San Juan is in mourning after a firefighting helicopter crashed in Ischigualasto Natural Park, killing all seven people on board, including firefighters, police officers, and civil protection personnel.
The aircraft, identified as a Bell 412 helicopter, had reportedly been conducting a training mission before it was set to assist in firefighting operations in a neighboring province. It lost contact with base at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, prompting emergency teams to respond to the crash site.
San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego confirmed the deaths and expressed grief over the loss of personnel who had been serving in emergency response operations. Argentina’s security officials also extended condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims.
Authorities have begun investigating the cause of the crash, while rescue and emergency teams were deployed to the area. Local accounts described the wreckage as severe, underscoring the force of the impact.
Following the tragedy, the San Juan provincial government declared three days of mourning, with national and provincial flags to be flown at half-mast. The crash comes as nearby La Rioja continues to battle forest fires that have burned hundreds of hectares in recent days, adding another layer of grief to an already difficult emergency response effort.
Image from FMT AFP