Brazilian military helicopter crash leaves 2 dead and 9 injured

Two individuals were fatally injured and nine others were hurt when a Brazilian Navy helicopter crashed near the Federal District during a training exercise.

The incident took place in Formosa municipality, close to the Federal District, as preparations were underway for a military demonstration scheduled for the upcoming Friday.

Of the 14 passengers onboard the UH-15 Super Cougar helicopter, two lost their lives at the crash site. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

This specific model, part of the 2nd Helicopter Squadron of the Brazilian Navy, was gearing up for a display at the Operation Formosa event later in the week.

Operation Formosa is a longstanding naval exercise in Formosa, initiated in 1988.

The UH-15 Super Cougar, vital for the defense of the Amazon, also serves other roles, including disaster relief support and transporting electronic voting machines during elections.

Additionally, this aircraft is used for various special operations, including medical evacuations, search and rescue, air logistics, and firefighting.

Notably, this helicopter model was the first to complete its entire assembly process within Brazil.