Families of the five GNR soldiers killed in a helicopter crash will receive 205,000 euros
The families of the five GNR soldiers who died in the crash of a helicopter fighting rural fires will receive “special compensation for death” of 205 thousand euros each, according to orders published this Thursday in Diário da República.
The five orders that define the amount of compensation to be awarded to each family are signed by the Ministers of Finance and Internal Administration and state that the five members of the GNR’s Emergency Protection and Relief Unit (UEPC) died, on August 30, “in the line of duty” due to the crash into the Douro River of a light helicopter from the Special Rural Fire Fighting Device (DECIR), when they were returning from fighting a fire in Baião.
According to the orders, the investigation into the accident concluded that it occurred “during the execution of the service” for which the GNR soldiers had been deployed and that there was “a causal link between the risk inherent to the police or security function and the death of the military”, thus “all the necessary conditions for the attribution of special compensation for death” provided for by law are met.
The amount of compensation was calculated based on “250 times the minimum guaranteed monthly remuneration, which at the date of the soldier’s death was set at 820 euros”, so the value of the “special compensation for death” to be awarded is 205 thousand euros, indicate the documents.
On August 30, a forest firefighting helicopter crashed into the Douro River near the town of Samodães, in Lamego, killing five GNR soldiers, aged between 29 and 45. The pilot of the aircraft was rescued alive, with only minor injuries.
The helitransported team was returning to the Armamar Air Means Center (CMA), where it was based, coming from a fire in the municipality of Baião.
The causes of the accident are not yet known.
The Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Aircraft Accidents and Railway Accidents (GPIAAF), a Portuguese State body, has a team on the ground that is investigating the accident.
The Public Ministry also opened an investigation into the helicopter crash.
