Portugal horror as four police officers killed in helicopter crash - one still missing
The helicopter crashed into the Douro River as it transported members of the Protection and Relief Intervention Group.
One police officer remains missing after a helicopter carrying at least six individuals plunged into a river in northern Portugal.
The pilot of the aircraft is said to have been saved by a tourist boat, however, at least five police officers aboard the helicopter remain unaccounted for following the crash near the city of Lamego in Cambres.
The aircraft, an AS350-Ècureuil model operated by HTA Helicopteros, plunged into the Douro River shortly after 12:30 pm local time on August 30.
Local reports indicate that the missing officers are part of an emergency protection and assistance unit of the GPR police force known as the UEPS.
The bodies of four of the officers were recovered inside the helicopter while the other three remain unaccounted for.
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The head of the Douro Port authority told Portuguese media: "We have two bodies inside the aircraft and three missing people.
"These three missing people may be on the shore in need of help. We are searching the entire area, on all shores."
An official source told local outlet RTP an additional two bodies had been found as authorities confirmed drones would be deployed to help with the search.
GNR chief Mafalda Gomes de Almeida has confirmed that only the helicopter pilot has been found alive so far.
She said: "There is still no information that the five GNR officers, who belong to the Armamar company, were rescued alive."
RTP reports the pilot was transported to Vila Real hospital after developing hypothermia and suffering some fractures.
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The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority said 83 officers have been deployed to the scene with 21 vehicles, five boats and three aircraft to search for the five missing crew.
The GNR said it "regrets the situation" and will do "everything possible" to locate the missing officers.
Before the two bodies were recovered, GNR Viseu commandeer Cololen Adriano Resende said: "We will do everything in our power, in coordination with all resources on the ground, to locate and bring our five soldiers to us."
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro travelled to the crash scene with President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa.
The chopper had been tackling a fire in Baiao near to the crash scene when it went down.
