The collision of two helicopters this Sunday morning in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, in the western area of ​​Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), left at least six people dead, according to official sources. “Reports indicate that the helicopters collided in midair and crashed in the parking lot of an electric car dealership,” firefighters reported.

“At least six deaths have been confirmed, all of them were members of the crew of the aircraft involved in the accident,” a statement from this institution states. The spokesman for the Fire Department, Fabio Contreiras, explained that the plane crash occurred at exactly 8:59 local time and that, upon arrival, the rescue teams initially located five bodies inside one of the aircraft.

The sixth fatal victim was found in the second helicopter, which fell about one hundred meters away from the first point of impact. About twenty electric cars were destroyed after one of the helicopters caught fire after falling into a private parking lot located in the Barra da Tijuca area.

The causes of the accident are unknown

Images broadcast by local media showed a dense column of black smoke rising from the dealership. The Fire Department spokesperson reported that, due to the force of the impact in the air, multiple pieces and fragments of the helicopters were projected towards the surrounding residential and commercial buildings, with no injuries reported so far.

Emergency units are working at the scene of the accident to secure the area. At this time, the identities of the victims and the causes of the collision are not known. Small aircraft accidents are frequent in Brazil. Last month, a small plane crashed into a building in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte, killing the pilot and co-pilot.