Helicopters collide over Rio de Janeiro, killing six and torching 20 electric cars
Two helicopters collided above Rio de Janeiro's western zone on Sunday, killing all six people on board and sparking a fire that destroyed about 20 electric vehicles.
What happened
Two helicopters collided mid-air over the western zone of Rio de Janeiro at 8:59 a.m. local time on Sunday, 14 June 2026, killing all six people on board. Both aircraft went down near the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood, with fragments landing in a radius of about 100 metres. The cause of the collision is not yet known, and the authorities have launched an investigation.
- Two helicopters collide mid-air over Recreio dos Bandeirantes.
- Firefighters dispatched; one helicopter crashes on BYD parking lot, igniting fire.
- Rescuers find five bodies in first helicopter; sixth victim found later in second wreckage.
- Fire brought under control; road partially closed due to debris.
Crash site and fire
One of the helicopters fell onto a parking lot rented by the Chinese electric-car manufacturer BYD from an abandoned church. The impact triggered an explosion and a large fire that destroyed roughly 20 electric vehicles, sending a thick column of black smoke into the sky that could be seen from several kilometres away. The second helicopter did not explode; it landed with its landing gear facing upward. A tail section struck a building, and other pieces hit a busy road, which was partially closed. Despite the heavy damage on the ground, no injuries were reported among people in the area.
At least six deaths have been confirmed, all were crew members of the aircraft involved in the accident.
Casualties and emergency response
All six people aboard the two helicopters died. Fire department spokesman Fabio Contreiras said that rescue workers initially located five bodies in the first helicopter; the sixth victim was later found in the second wreckage. The Military Fire Department dispatched about 45 personnel and 15 vehicles to the scene. They extinguished the flames roughly one hour after the crash, by 10:00 a.m. local time, preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. Helicopters are a common form of transport for business and tourism in Rio de Janeiro.
Investigation
The identities of the victims have not been released, and the cause of the mid-air collision remains under investigation. Fatal small-aircraft accidents are relatively frequent in Brazil. Last month, a light plane crashed into a building in Belo Horizonte, killing the pilot and co-pilot.
