Six people are dead after two helicopters collided in Brazil and crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:12, 14 June 2026 | Updated: 18:12, 14 June 2026 At least six people have tragically died in Brazil after two helicopters collided in western Rio de Janeiro today.  The helicopters crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that engulfed at least 20 vehicles. 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. Women embrace following a deadly collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 14, 2026 An aerial view shows firefighters working at the site of a helicopter crash in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, 2026 Emergency workers inspect the site where two helicopters reportedly collided in midair and crashed into a car dealership parking lot in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, 2026 A second helicopter found around 330ft 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.' An aerial view shows the aftermath of a helicopter crash in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, 2026 A man walks past parts of a helicopter following a deadly collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 14, 2026 A police officer and two women stand next to burned vehicles at the site of a helicopter crash in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, 2026 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 Centre 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. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.