Berlin, Germany — At least two members of the German Air Force were killed after a military helicopter crashed during a training mission in the eastern part of the country, the German Ministry of Defence confirmed on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the German Air Force told AFP that the two crew members who died were “experienced personnel,” and added that search efforts are still ongoing for a possible third crew member.
The helicopter, identified as an Airbus EC-135, had been leased for training purposes and went down under still-unknown circumstances near the Mulde River, close to Grimma, Saxony.
The aircraft had been missing since early Monday, prompting a large-scale search operation. Local police reported that kayakers first spotted debris in the river. In response, authorities erected a dam along part of the Mulde River to contain kerosene leaks and prevent environmental contamination.
The German Armed Forces have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, while recovery and cleanup operations continue at the scene.
