-A French National Gendarmerie helicopter crashed on Sunday afternoon in the Loiret region of central France.

-The aircraft came down near Bray-Saint-Aignan in the Lorris massif of the Orléans state forest.

-Local authorities deployed 54 firefighters and 44 emergency vehicles to the scene.

-French news agency AFP, citing a source close to the investigation, reported that several fatalities are feared.

-French authorities have not yet officially confirmed the death toll.

-French outlet Ici reported that the helicopter may have been involved in the search for a missing teenager, who was later found safe.

-Specialist forensic investigators have arrived at the crash site.

-Loiret prefect Hugues Moutouh travelled to the scene and described the incident as a “terrible accident”.

-The cause of the crash remains unknown.

-An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing.