German military helicopter crashes into river, search, recovery underway

A helicopter belonging to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) has crashed into the River Mulde near the town of Grimma in Saxony, eastern Germany.

The incident was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Leipzig police, who stated that no casualties had been confirmed as of yet, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

According to the Leipziger Volkszeitung, the aircraft disappeared from radar between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. local time. The Leipzig District Fire Brigade Association reported that debris was discovered in the river by paddlers at approximately noon, prompting an immediate emergency response.

Police later confirmed the downed aircraft was indeed a Bundeswehr helicopter. A military exclusion zone has since been established around the crash site. 

Germany’s Ministry of Defence has not yet issued an official statement, though local reported earlier that the helicopter and its pilot were unaccounted for, further raising concerns over the fate of the crew.

The crash site has presented logistical challenges for emergency personnel. According to a spokesman from the fire brigade, significant amounts of kerosene had leaked into the river, and the wreckage remains partially submerged, complicating recovery operations. “The wreck lies in the middle of the river and is difficult to access,” he said.

Roughly 50 emergency responders are currently involved in the operation, working to contain the environmental damage caused by the fuel spill and to recover the remains of the helicopter. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and investigations are underway.

By Vafa Guliyeva