SRINAGAR: At least six people were killed after two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed in western Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, triggering a major fire that engulfed multiple vehicles on the ground, Brazilian firefighters said.
The accident occurred in the suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes shortly before 9 am local time, according to news agency AFP. Firefighters said the helicopters collided in mid-air before crashing into the parking area of an electric vehicle dealership.
“Reports indicate that the helicopters collided in mid-air and crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that engulfed at least 20 vehicles,” the fire department said in a statement.
“At least six fatalities have been confirmed; all were crew members of the aircraft involved in the accident,” the statement added.
Images carried by local media showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as several vehicles caught fire following the impact.
According to Brazilian digital news portal Mix Vale, the helicopters came down on land belonging to a deactivated church that had been leased by electric vehicle company BYD. One of the aircraft reportedly exploded on impact, causing the blaze to spread rapidly to parked electric vehicles and triggering further explosions.
The crash occurred in an area bounded by Avenida das Américas and the streets of Beth Lago and Rivadávia Campos, Mix Vale reported.
Fire department teams were dispatched to the scene shortly before 9 am local time and launched rescue and firefighting operations. Authorities closed a side lane of Avenida das Américas to facilitate emergency access and ensure public safety, according to the report.
Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control by around 10 am, preventing it from spreading further, Mix Vale said.
The cause of the collision was not immediately known, and authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash.
