Six die after two helicopters collide over Rio de Janeiro, crash into electric car dealership

Six people died after two helicopters collided mid-air in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as one crashed into a car dealership and sparked fires among electric vehicles.

Two helicopters collided in midair before crashing into car park of electric vehicle dealership, fire service says. Aljazeera – Two helicopters have collided in mid-air over the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, killing all six people on board, local authorities said. Officials have launched an investigation into the cause of Sunday morning’s crash over […] The post Six people killed as helicopters collide over Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro appeared first on Kaieteur News.

Two helicopters collided in midair before crashing into car park of electric vehicle dealership, fire service says.

The aircrafts fell into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that engulfed at least 20 vehicles

At least six people died in Brazil on Sunday after two helicopters collided in western Rio de Janeiro, firefighters said. The helicopters crashed into the car park of an electric car showroom, igniting a fire that engulfed at least 20 cars. A statement from firefighters said initial reports pointed to a mid-air collision, adding “six fatalities have been confirmed, all were crew members of the aircraft involved in the accident”. Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said there were “foreign...

At least six people died in Brazil on Sunday after two helicopters collided in western Rio de Janeiro.

At least six people died in Brazil on Sunday after two helicopters collided in western Rio de Janeiro.

Six people died in a mid-air collision of two helicopters in western Rio de Janeiro, with the crash igniting a fire that destroyed at least 20 vehicles at a car dealership. 

The helicopters crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that engulfed at least 20 vehicles

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP)—At least six people died in Brazil on Sunday after two helicopters collided in western Rio de Janeiro, firefighters said. The helicopters crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that engulfed at least 20 vehicles. A statement from firefighters said that initial reports pointed to a mid-air collision, adding "six fatalities have been confirmed, all were crew members of the aircraft involved in the accident." Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said that there were "foreign nationals on board one of the aircraft," without giving further details. Fire services spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Contreiras told CNN Brasil at the scene that it was unclear exactly how the accident unfolded. "Parts of the aircraft are scattered hundreds of meters away, so the information we have is still very preliminary. We really need to get the recordings and videos to understand exactly what happened," he said. Contreiras said rescue workers had discovered one helicopter in flames among the electric cars, with five victims inside. A second helicopter found some 100 meters away was carrying only the pilot, who also died. The accident took place in the suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes. Images in local media showed a thick plume of black smoke rising from the car dealership, where several vehicles were on fire. Contreiras said the fact that the aircraft had crashed in the parking area had prevented a higher death toll. "Given the surrounding residences, the accident could have been far more tragic," he said. He highlighted the challenges in fighting a fire impacting electric vehicles, which contain lithium-ion batteries. "When this type of battery catches fire, it releases highly toxic gases and intensifies both the temperature and the severity of the blaze. Extinguishing a fire in one of these vehicles requires three to four times the amount of water needed for a fire in a standard car." Small aircraft crashes are common in Brazil, the world's fifth-largest country. Last month a small plane crashed into the side of a building in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte, killing the pilot and copilot. According to statistics from the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) -- not including this latest collision -- there have been 84 aircraft accidents in 2026 so far, leaving 25 people dead.

Images of the scene in local media showed a thick plume of black smoke rising from the car dealership, where several cars were on fire.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning and crashed in the city’s western zone, killing all six people aboard, firefighters said. Rio de Janeiro’s Military Fire Department said that one of the helicopters crashed on the parking lot of a car dealership, where several electric vehicles were […]

Tragedy struck western Rio de Janeiro as two helicopters collided mid-air, claiming at least six lives. The devastating crash ignited a massive fire at an electric car dealership, engulfing numerous vehicles. Firefighters battled the blaze, which spread rapidly after one aircraft reportedly exploded on impact. The incident occurred in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes suburb.