Six dead in helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Two helicopters collided in mid-air over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning, killing six people.
- Among the victims were Argentine youtuber Gaspar
A sunny Sunday morning in Rio de Janeiro turned into a scene of devastation when two helicopters collided in the air over Recreio dos Bandeirantes. The crash, which occurred around 8:59 AM, resulted in six fatalities and scattered debris over a wide area. Thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage, and secondary explosions further alarmed residents.
The aircraft, an Eurocopter AS 350 B2 and a Bell 206B Jet Ranger, were reportedly in regular technical condition. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collision. The Eurocopter, carrying Argentine passengers, including popular YouTuber Gaspar "Gaspi" Prim and musician Lucas Vignale, along with Brazilian pilot Alexandre Souza, crashed and exploded on impact. The Bell helicopter, carrying only its pilot, also fell.
We found a big fire, 15 electric vehicles that caught fire.
Debris landed on the lot of an abandoned church used as a parking and storage area for electric cars. The resulting fire spread to 15 vehicles, complicating the rescue efforts. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze and prevent further tragedy. The crash site on Avenida das Amรฉricas, a major thoroughfare, caused significant traffic disruptions.
The work of the 50 firefighters was very important. The fire could have...
Originally published by La Naciรณn in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.