In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, the Aircraft and Railway Accident Prevention and Investigation Office (GPIAAF) says that it “has concluded the essentials of the fieldwork phase of the investigation into the accident”, which occurred on Friday, near Samodães, Lamego, district of Viseu, which caused the death of five GNR from the Emergency Protection and Relief Unit (UEPC) who were returning from a fire in the municipality of Baião.

“Having collected evidence at the accident site, including interviews with the pilot [sole survivor] and witnesses, as well as most of the wreckage of the aircraft, which is in transit to the GPIAAF investigation hangar at Viseu aerodrome, attempts will still be made to locate and recover some secondary wreckage on Sunday morning”, the public body said.

The GPIAAF added that “in accordance with international legislation and practices”, on Friday, “the international aeronautical authorities concerned were notified, and they appointed experts to cooperate with the investigation, including those from the aircraft manufacturer, who will participate in the examination of the aircraft wreckage”.

“The GPIAAF intends to publish an information note at the end of next Tuesday giving an account of the initial findings and the path to be followed in the investigation”, the statement also reads.

The crashed helicopter, an AS350 – Écureuil model, was operated by the company HTA Helicópteros, based in Loulé, Algarve.

The aircraft crashed into the Douro River at 12:36 on Friday, near the town of Samodães, in the municipality of Lamego, with six occupants, a pilot and five soldiers from the Emergency Protection and Relief Unit (UEPC), who were returning from fighting a rural fire that was raging in Gestaçô, in the municipality of Baião.

The pilot, the sole survivor, was rescued from the Douro River with injuries and taken to hospital.

The bodies of four GNR were found on Friday. The fifth was found on Saturday afternoon, after intensive searches at the site.