Four People Killed After Helicopter Crashes in Rio National Park

RIO DE JANEIRO: (News Desk) – Four people, including three Colombian tourists from the same family, were killed when a helicopter crashed in Rio de Janeiro’s Tijuca National Park on Saturday, according to Colombia’s consul in the city.

The aircraft came down in a densely wooded, mountainous area near Vista Chinesa, making access to the crash site particularly difficult. Brazilian firefighters said the pilot and three women died in the crash and released images showing the aircraft’s smoking wreckage on a steep hillside.

Colombia’s Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Diana Paez, said the three women were travelling as part of a family group of six that had come to Rio to celebrate a girl’s 15th birthday.

Because the helicopter could carry only three passengers, the family group had divided into two groups. The girl’s grandmother, aunt and cousin were on the flight that crashed, while the teenager was scheduled to fly later with her father and his partner.

The Colombian consulate assisted Brazilian authorities with the identification of the victims, a process complicated by the condition of the bodies.

The helicopter crashed near Vista Chinesa, a popular lookout featuring a Chinese-style pagoda and panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro. The landmark was also featured in the 2011 animated film Rio.

The crash comes just weeks after another helicopter accident in the city. In June, two helicopters collided over Rio, killing six people, including American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim.

Helicopter tours are popular among visitors seeking aerial views of Rio’s beaches, mountains and other landmarks. Following the latest accident, Rio Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said he had asked Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency to strengthen safety monitoring of helicopter operations.