Two Dead In Spanish Pyrenees Helicopter Crash

Two people have died after the helicopter they were using to transport material in the Pyrenees crashed and burned.

The accident took place in the municipality of La Vansa i Fornols, in the comarca of Alt Urgel, in the eastern Spanish province of Lleida in the Catalonia region.

A witness reportedly called the emergency services saying that he had just spotted the helicopter falling to the ground before it erupted into flames.

The two male victims have been identified in local media as Spanish national H.G., 47, and J.F., 30, who both worked for Helitrans Pyrinees, the company which owned the helicopter.

They had reportedly been transporting materials for the repair and maintenance of the power lines in the area near Sant Marc de La Vansa owned by electric company Endesa.

The helicopter had reportedly dropped off its cargo and was flying back to its base when it crashed for reasons which are under investigation by the Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police).

Endesa told local newspaper El Pais that the work on the power lines “is not done by ourselves” and added that “we ask a collaborating company to do the tasks”.

Endesa had reportedly contracted Helitrans Pyrinees to transport the material needed for the work as the municipality of La Vansa i Fornols, located at an altitude of around 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) in the Catalan Pyrenees.

An air ambulance was sent to the scene along with three helicopters from the firefighters and a normal ambulance, with the firefighters managing to bring the flames under control.

In the videos, one of the emergency services helicopters can be seen taking off as smoke from the scene of the crash can be seen close by.

The Federation of Hiking Entities of Catalonia, who work with Helitrans Pyrinees for the transfer of material and products to mountain refuges, expressed their regret over the accident.