Six dead in helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro

A tragic mid-air collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning claimed the lives of six individuals. The accident occurred in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood in the city's west zone at approximately 8:59 a.m. local time.

Fire Department spokesperson Fabio Contreiras reported that rescue teams initially found five bodies inside one of the aircraft. The sixth victim was discovered in the second helicopter, which crashed about 100 meters away from the initial impact site. The force of the collision caused debris to scatter, hitting nearby residential and commercial buildings.

One of the helicopters caught fire upon impact in a private parking lot, leading to the destruction of approximately twenty electric cars. Firefighters quickly controlled the blaze, and crews remained on site to clear the wreckage and affected vehicles. Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere confirmed that one helicopter carried a pilot and four passengers, including one foreign national, while the other had only a pilot.

Both pilots were described as highly experienced aviation instructors. The aircraft were reportedly en route to Angra dos Reis on the Green Coast and the Serra Fluminense region. Security camera footage from the area is being collected to aid the Brazilian Air Force's Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa) in its investigation into the cause of the crash.