Helicopter crash report: Both aircraft had same flight plan, one undetected by radar

A report investigating the fatal helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro on June 14, which claimed the lives of Argentine YouTuber Gaspar “Gaspi” Prim and five others, has revealed critical details about the incident. The investigation by Brazil's Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa) found that both helicopters involved shared the same flight plan.

According to the report, the helicopter carrying Gaspi, identified by registration PP-MAC, departed from Jacarepaguá Airport with a destination of Angra dos Reis. The other helicopter, PR-DJJ, took off from Santos Dumont Airport bound for Guaratiba. The collision occurred in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood. Cenipa's findings indicate that both aircraft utilized the same helicopter routes, Praia and Grota, with converging points in the Tachas area where the crash took place.

A significant finding is that the helicopter carrying Gaspi was not detected by the Brazilian Airspace Control System (Sisceab) radar at any point during its flight. In contrast, the PR-DJJ was monitored from takeoff until shortly before the collision. The last recorded position for PR-DJJ showed it flying at approximately 244 meters altitude and 200 km/h.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that neither helicopter was equipped with flight data recorders (FDR) or cockpit voice recorders (CVR), commonly known as "black boxes." Cenipa stated that there was no regulatory requirement for these devices to be installed on the aircraft in question. The report also noted that weather conditions were favorable for flight, with good visibility and light winds reported by the Jacarepaguá airport.