Disasters & Incidents
Argentina helicopter crash kills seven in San Juan
Seven people died on Wednesday when a firefighting helicopter crashed in Argentina's western San Juan province, Governor Marcelo Orrego said.
The Bell 412 aircraft had been training before heading to neighbouring La Rioja province to help fight days-long fires when it crashed in Ischigualasto natural park. It lost contact with base at about 10:30 am local time.
Orrego said the dead included firefighters, police officers and civil protection personnel. Emergency services said the cause of the crash was under investigation and a rescue team had been deployed.
San Juan's local government declared three days of mourning after the crash, with national and provincial flags to be flown at half-mast.
La Rioja has been dealing with several forest fires in mountainous areas since the beginning of the week. Local firefighters told AFP that hundreds of hectares had burned in three days.
Update
The Bell 412 had been training before heading to La Rioja province to help fight days-long fires.
The helicopter crashed in Ischigualasto natural park after losing contact with base at about 10:30 am local time.
San Juan's government declared three days of mourning, with national and provincial flags to be flown at half-mast.
Local firefighters said hundreds of hectares had burned in La Rioja in three days.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 23:04:05 UTC.
Update
The crashed aircraft was a Bell 412 used to fight forest fires in San Juan's Ischigualasto natural park.
The helicopter had been heading to neighbouring La Rioja province to help control a forest fire.
San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego said the dead included firefighters, police officers and civil protection personnel.
Emergency services said the helicopter lost contact with base on Wednesday morning and the cause was under investigation.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 20:38:22 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation.
Source
AFP news report published on .