Brazil wants explanation about cross-border helicopter rescue mission involving Georgia man

<p>Brazils government is investigating why it was not notified when Bolivian officials launched a cross-border rescue mission to help the crew of a helicopter that crashed this month in the Amazon region, Brazilian newspapers reported Saturday.</p><p>Sergio Rodrigo of Locust Grove, Ga., was one of two pilots who died in the Dec. 8 helicopter crash.</p><p>Bolivian officials originally said the crash happened on the Bolivian side of the remote border area. But a U.S. embassy spokesman in Brasilia on Saturday confirmed two newspaper reports that the rescue helicopters landed on the Brazilian side.</p><p>Brazils air force is investigating the accident, rescue mission and lack of notification to Brazilian authorities, according to the Folha de Sao Paulo and O Estado de Sao Paulo newspapers. Sen. Eduardo Suplicy told Folha de Sao Paulo the air force has not yet received an explanation from Bolivias embassy in Brasilia.</p><p>Rodrigo and another pilot died after the helicopter met bad weather and crashed while trying to land. Bolivian helicopters rescued the survivor, a mechanic, and took him to Bolivia for medical treatment, said Patrick Linehan, the U.S. embassy spokesman. Then they returned to the site and took the bodies of the dead back to Bolivia.</p><p>Brazils embassy in Bolivia wasnt told about the rescue mission until after it was completed, O Estado de Sao Paulo reported. Brazilian officials could not be reached to comment Saturday on the investigation.</p><p>Linehan said the helicopter was being taken out of Bolivia to be sold.</p>