LISBON, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) — The body of a missing soldier involved in a helicopter crash in northern Portugal was recovered on Saturday afternoon, according to Portugal’s civil protection authorities.
The helicopter, with a pilot and five soldiers on board, crashed Friday on the Douro River while returning from firefighting operations in northern Portugal.
The crash has killed all the soldiers, with four bodies retrieved on Friday. The pilot suffered injuries, and is currently receiving medical care.
The impact was described as “strong,” leading to the “total destruction of the aircraft,” said Rui Silva Lampreia, regional commander of the Northern Maritime Police, quoted by local media.
The Portuguese government has initiated an investigation into the cause of the crash.