Six die after helicopters collide over Rio de Janeiro suburb
Brazilian authorities are investigating a mid-air collision that sent two helicopters into an electric car dealership parking lot.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Six people were killed on Sunday morning when two helicopters collided above Rio de Janeiro and fell into a parking lot in the city’s west, local authorities said. Officials opened an investigation into the crash in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, where the impact also sparked a difficult fire among electric vehicles.
Firefighters said the aircraft came down at an electric car dealership after the mid-air collision, igniting about 20 vehicles. Fire services spokesman Fabio Contreiras said the type of cars involved made the blaze harder to control because their lithium-ion batteries released dangerous gases.
“When this type of battery catches fire, it releases highly toxic gases and intensifies both the temperature and severity of the blaze,” Contreiras said, according to Al Jazeera. He said putting out a fire in one electric vehicle can require “three to four times” as much water as a conventional car fire.
Contreiras said emergency crews found one helicopter burning among the electric cars with five people inside. The second aircraft was found about 100 metres, or 328 feet, away and had only the pilot on board, who also died, according to the fire official.
The crash site was in a densely populated area, Contreiras said. He said the number of deaths could have been far higher if the helicopters had come down somewhere other than the dealership parking area.
Debris from the aircraft was discovered hundreds of metres from where the helicopters fell, authorities said. Video shared online showed a column of dark smoke rising from the parking lot, according to Al Jazeera.
Investigators have not announced a cause for the collision. Contreiras said authorities would need to examine recordings of what happened before they could determine why the helicopters hit each other.
Brazil’s Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents, known as CENIPA, had recorded 84 aircraft accidents in 2026 before Sunday’s crash, according to figures cited by Al Jazeera. The Rio collision adds to that toll as investigators assess the wreckage and any available footage from the area.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.