Four killed in helicopter crash in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro
Rio De Janeiro, Aug 9
At least four people were killed when a helicopter crashed in a forested area in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, firefighters said.
The crash occurred at about 11:11 a.m. local time in the Vista Chinesa area of Alto da Boa Vista on Saturday. The local fire department was called to the scene and later located the wreckage in an area of dense vegetation.
Specialised teams reached the crash site by land, while firefighting units were also deployed to extinguish a fire that broke out after the helicopter went down, reports Xinhua news agency.
The crash involved a pilot and three Colombian women who were members of the same family.
Authorities initially confirmed four deaths but had not yet released the victims' details.
Rio's mayor Eduardo Cavaliere posted to X: "My solidarity to the families of the victims of the helicopter accident that happened today near Vista Chinesa within the Tijuca National Park."
He added that he had been in contact with Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency, ANAC: "@prefeitura_rio has requested that ANAC take immediate action to intensify oversight and ensure safety in helicopter flights that are circulating with increasing frequency in our city. We place the entire apparatus of @prefeitura_rio at the disposal of ANAC to support the measures and actions that may be necessary."
Earlier In June, two helicopters collided over Rio and left six people dead, including American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim.
Last year, a small aircraft was crashed and exploded next to a beach in the tourist city of Ubatuba, in the Brazilian southeastern state of Sao Paulo, with preliminary one death and seven other injuries, said the local fire department.
The deceased was the pilot who tried to land at the Ubatuba regional airport, but could not stop the speed and crossed the security fence of the air terminal.
— IANS
Reader Comments
😔 Terrible tragedy. Rio's landscape is beautiful but flying over dense forests seems risky. Our own hill stations in India have similar challenges — narrow valleys, sudden weather changes. Hope both Brazilian authorities and our DGCA learn from this and prioritize safety over tourism profits.
Such a tragic loss — a family wiped out in a single accident. The mayor's warning about the increasing frequency of helicopter flights is alarming. Rio's beautiful geography shouldn't become a death trap. Prayers for the victims' families. 🙏
It seems like Brazilian aviation has had a string of terrible incidents — the June mid-air collision and now this. While the crash investigation is important, I feel for those Colombian families. In India, we've also seen similar tragedies with small aircraft and helicopters in remote areas. Safety must be the first priority everywhere.
Heartbreaking. Rio de Janeiro is a frequent destination for Indian tourists as well, so this hits close. The local authorities should investigate thoroughly and consider limiting helicopter traffic near the Tijuca National Park. Flying over national parks shouldn't be unrestricted.
Very sad. While the pilot and the family are gone, I sincerely hope aviation authorities enforce stricter maintenance checks. At times, financial pressure leads to cutting corners on safety. I wish our own country remains vigilant too — our helicopter services in pilgrimage areas must be extra careful.
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