Brazil Probes Helicopters' Legality After Deadly Mid-Air Collision

Brazilian aviation authorities have launched an investigation into a fatal helicopter collision that occurred Sunday morning in Rio de Janeiro's western region. The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) is working to determine if either of the two helicopters involved in the crash was operating illegally, specifically by conducting clandestine passenger transport.

The accident, which claimed the lives of all six individuals on board the two aircraft, prompted immediate scrutiny. ANAC's executive director, Tiago Faierstein, stated that initial findings indicate the pilots were properly licensed and experienced, and the helicopters themselves were documented and airworthy at the time of the incident. However, the investigation is prioritizing the possibility of illegal air transport.

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The pilots were in regulation and had considerable experience, especially for the type of aircraft they were piloting. And the aircraft was also in good condition.

"We have several reports and some investigations underway," Faierstein told O Globo, explaining the focus on whether the aircraft, particularly the one carrying passengers, was engaged in clandestine operations. This type of illegal transport, often referred to as "transporte aéreo clandestino," is a serious concern for aviation safety regulators.

The crash occurred around 8:59 a.m. in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, when the two helicopters collided in mid-air and plummeted onto a parking lot. One helicopter, an Eurocopter AS 350 B2, exploded upon impact, killing its five occupants. The second, a Bell 206B, crashed without igniting, and its sole occupant, the pilot, died trapped in the wreckage. Among the identified victims were American singer and producer Oliver Tree, and Argentine YouTuber Gaspi and audiovisual director Lucas Vignale. Emergency services and accident investigators are on site, working to secure the area and recover wreckage to determine the exact cause of the collision, examining potential technical failures or human error.

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However, we must verify if these aircraft, or at least one of them, the one carrying passengers, were carrying out what we call clandestine air transport. We have several reports and some investigations underway.