Six people were killed after two helicopters collided in midair and crashed in Rio de Janeiro’s western zone on Sunday morning, according to Brazilian emergency officials.
The Rio de Janeiro Military Fire Department confirmed that all six occupants aboard the aircraft died in the crash. One of the helicopters plunged into a car dealership, where several electric vehicles were parked, sparking a fire that firefighters later extinguished.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene following the collision, which sent debris across the area and caused significant damage to vehicles and nearby property. No casualties on the ground were immediately reported.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the helicopters to collide. Aviation experts and law enforcement officials are examining flight records, maintenance histories and other evidence as part of the inquiry.
Police revealed that American singer and comedian Oliver Tree was listed among the passengers on a manifest provided to aviation authorities. However, officials cautioned that the identities of the victims have not yet been officially confirmed because the bodies recovered from the crash site have not been positively identified.
The possibility of Tree being among the victims has drawn international attention. The performer had recently appeared in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 4 and posted a video on social media on Saturday showing himself playing soccer in a Brazilian neighborhood.
Witnesses described a chaotic and terrifying scene. Fernandes de Freitas, a local tire repair worker, said he observed one of the helicopters engulfed in flames after the collision. He also claimed to have seen a passenger jump from the second aircraft before it crashed.
“It was terrifying, absolutely horrifying,” De Freitas said, recalling the moments before both helicopters hit the ground.
Images from the crash site showed burned vehicles scattered across the dealership parking lot and emergency crews working to secure the area. Family members and friends of those believed to be aboard the helicopters gathered nearby as authorities continued recovery operations.
Officials are expected to release further information once victim identifications are completed and investigators determine the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.
