Seven people died when a firefighting helicopter in Argentina’s western San Juan province crashed on Wednesday, a local official said.
The Bell 412 aircraft was used to combat forest fires in San Juan’s Ischigualasto natural park.
“With profound sorrow we received the news of the helicopter accident that occurred in our province, in which seven people sadly lost their lives,” San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego wrote on X.
Con profundo dolor recibimos la noticia del accidente de helicóptero ocurrido en nuestra provincia, en el que tristemente perdieron la vida siete personas. Entre ellas, Carlos Heredia, director de Protección Civil; el comisario general Germán Videla, subjefe de la Policía de San…
— Marcelo Orrego (@DrMarceloOrrego) July 29, 2026
Fatalities included firefighters, police officers and civil protection personnel, he said.
The helicopter lost contact with base on Wednesday morning, emergency services said.
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It had been heading for the neighboring La Rioja province to help control a forest fire there, according to a statement, which added that the causes of the accident were under investigation.
