RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Six people have been confirmed dead after a firefighting helicopter crashed in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, local authorities said Saturday.

The helicopter, which had been missing since Friday afternoon, was found early Saturday morning near the town of Ouro Preto, according to fire department spokesperson Lieutenant Henrique Barcellos.

On board were four firefighters, a nurse and a doctor. The crew had been dispatched on Friday to assist in the search for a small plane that had crashed near Ouro Preto, local media reported. ■