According to SEPA, the pilot, the helicopter’s sole crew member, left the reservoir on his own.
The incidents occurred on Friday at approximately 5:50 p.m., according to a SEPA press release. The helicopter was deployed to fight a forest fire in Sobrescobio, above the Alba route, and was loading water into the reservoir at the time of the accident.
Medical teams were dispatched to the affected area with an ambulance to transport the pilot to Valle del Nalón Hospital. SEPA’s air rescue medical team and firefighters from San Martín del Rey Aurelio Park also participated.
The Minister of Mobility, Environment and Emergency Management, Alejandro Calvo, also traveled to the affected area. In statements to TPA, also quoted by Europa Press, he reported that the helicopter crashed over the reservoir after colliding with high-voltage power lines. This also led to power outages and disruption of mobile phone service in the surrounding communities. However, Calvo noted that power has since been restored.
The minister emphasized that after the bag used to collect water for firefighting became entangled in the cables, the pilot “had the necessary expertise to land safely and save his life, which is the most important thing.” He announced that the sunken aircraft would be recovered this Saturday.
Calvo added that the Tanes Reservoir is one of the most important water resources for the region. Existing protocols already ensure the stability of the area “to prevent water from entering the distribution network in the event of a spill.”
