Key facts
- Two helicopters collided mid-air over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
- All six people aboard both helicopters were killed.
- The collision occurred in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood.
- One helicopter crashed onto an electric vehicle dealership's lot, starting a fire that consumed at least 20 cars.
- Victims include American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim.
- Brazil's Air Force is investigating the incident.
Two helicopters collided mid-air over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning, killing all six people on board. The collision occurred around 09:00 local time in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood. One helicopter was carrying five people, while the other had only its pilot. There were no survivors. The victims were identified as American singer Oliver Tree, 32, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, 23, passengers Lucas Brito Chaves and Lucas Vignale, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. One of the helicopters crashed onto land rented by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, igniting a fire that engulfed approximately 20 parked cars. The second aircraft crashed about 100 meters away without catching fire. Debris from the impact scattered across nearby buildings. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within an hour. Rio de Janeiro's Mayor confirmed foreign nationals were on board one of the aircraft. Brazil's Air Force has deployed investigators to open a formal inquiry into the incident.