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At slightest six radical died successful Brazil connected Sunday (June 14, 2026) aft 2 helicopters collided successful occidental Rio de Janeiro, firefighters said.
The helicopters crashed into the parking batch of an electrical car dealership, igniting a occurrence that engulfed astatine slightest 20 vehicles.
A connection from firefighters said that archetypal reports pointed to a mid-air collision, adding "six fatalities person been confirmed, each were unit members of the craft progressive successful the accident."
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said that determination were "foreign nationals connected committee 1 of the aircraft," without giving further details.
Fire services spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Contreiras told CNN Brasil astatine the country that it was unclear precisely however the mishap unfolded.
"Parts of the craft are scattered hundreds of meters away, truthful the accusation we person is inactive precise preliminary. We truly request to get the recordings and videos to recognize precisely what happened," helium said.
Contreiras said rescue workers had discovered 1 chopper successful flames among the electrical cars, with 5 victims inside.
A 2nd chopper recovered immoderate 100 metres distant was carrying lone the pilot, who besides died.
The mishap took spot successful the suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes.
Images successful section media showed a heavy plume of achromatic fume rising from the car dealership, wherever respective vehicles were connected fire.
Contreiras said the information that the craft had crashed successful the parking country had prevented a higher decease toll.
"Given the surrounding residences, the mishap could person been acold much tragic," helium said.
He highlighted the challenges successful warring a occurrence impacting electrical vehicles, which incorporate lithium-ion batteries.
"When this benignant of artillery catches fire, it releases highly toxic gases and intensifies some the somesthesia and the severity of the blaze. Extinguishing a occurrence successful 1 of these vehicles requires 3 to 4 times the magnitude of h2o needed for a occurrence successful a modular car."
Small craft crashes are communal successful Brazil, the world's fifth-largest country.
Last period a tiny level crashed into the broadside of a gathering successful the southeastern metropolis of Belo Horizonte, sidesplitting the aviator and copilot.
According to statistic from the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) — not including this latest collision — determination person been 84 craft accidents successful 2026 truthful far, leaving 25 radical dead.
