Tragedy During Training Exercise in Argentina as Military Helicopter Crashes, Killing 7

A military helicopter crashed in Argentina’s San Juan province during a wildfire response training exercise, killing seven people.

Authorities said the Bell 412 aircraft plunged vertically to the ground just moments after takeoff. Police, Fire Service and Civil Defense officials were aboard the helicopter and died at the scene.

Contact between the helicopter and air traffic control was lost shortly before 10:30 a.m. local time, while it was flying at around 4,000 meters above sea level. According to authorities, weather conditions were favorable and posed no risk to the exercise.

The crew was taking part in a national wildfire response training program organized by the National Fire Service. Around 50 trainees from local emergency response teams were involved in the training.

Those killed included Deputy Police Chief Marcelo Videla, Fire Service chief Rubén Castro, Civil Defense Director Carlos Heredia and Deputy Fire Chief Jorge Carbajal, San Juan provincial authorities confirmed. The names of the other three victims have not yet been released.

Argentine authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the helicopter crash.