Brazilian firefighters said at least six people were killed Sunday after two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed in western Rio de Janeiro, causing a massive fire that spread to several vehicles on the ground.According to news agency AFP, this accident happened in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, a suburb in the western part of the city.“Reports indicate that the helicopters collided mid-air and crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, causing a fire and burning at least 20 vehicles,” firefighters said in a statement.“At least six deaths have been confirmed; all were crew members of the aircraft involved in the accident,” the statement said.
accident causes huge fire
Pictures taken by local media showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as several vehicles caught fire after the collision.According to Brazilian digital news portal Mix Vale, the helicopters landed on land owned by a defunct church that was leased by electric vehicle company BYD.One of the aircraft reportedly exploded, resulting in a fire that quickly spread to parked electric vehicles and further explosions.According to reports, the accident occurred in the area along Avenida das America and the streets of Beth Lago and Rivadavia Campos.
Emergency response launched
Fire department teams were dispatched to the scene shortly before 9 a.m. local time and began rescue and fire fighting operations.According to Mix Vale, authorities closed a side lane of Avenida das Américas to facilitate emergency access and ensure public safety.Firefighters brought the fire under control by around 10 a.m. and stopped it from spreading further, reports said.Small aircraft accidents are relatively common in Brazil. Last month, a small plane crashed into the side of a building in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte, killing both the pilot and co-pilot.The latest crash is one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Rio de Janeiro in recent months.