Seven people were killed after a firefighting helicopter crashed in Argentina’s western San Juan province on Wednesday, prompting an investigation into one of the country’s deadliest emergency aviation accidents in recent years.

The Bell 412 helicopter was en route to the neighbouring La Rioja province to assist in battling an ongoing forest fire when it lost contact with its base at around 10:30 am local time. The aircraft went down in the Ischigualasto Natural Park area, where emergency responders later confirmed that all seven people on board had died.

Among those killed were firefighters, police officers, and civil protection personnel, including senior provincial emergency officials. San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego expressed condolences to the victims’ families, describing the incident as a devastating loss for the province. He also announced a period of official mourning in honour of those who lost their lives.

Authorities said the helicopter had been participating in wildfire response operations before heading to support firefighting efforts in La Rioja. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and aviation authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine what led to the accident.

The tragedy comes as Argentina continues to battle forest fires in several regions, with emergency crews working under challenging conditions to contain the blazes. Officials have pledged a thorough investigation while paying tribute to the emergency personnel who died in the line of duty.