Helicopter Collision in Rio de Janeiro Claims Six Lives
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Two helicopters collided on Sunday morning, crashing in the western zone of the city and killing all six individuals aboard, authorities said.
The Military Fire Department reported that one helicopter crashed into a car dealership's parking lot, igniting a fire that has since been extinguished.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the collision. Authorities confirmed that American singer and comedian Oliver Tree was listed among the passengers, although the identities of the deceased have not been confirmed.
Also reported to be on board is Gaspar Prim Díaz, known as Gaspi, a popular content creator with over 2.8 million YouTube followers. Gaspi was 23 years old.
Witnesses described the incident as chaotic. Fernandes de Freitas, a tire repair worker, stated he observed one of the helicopters engulfed in flames following the midair collision, noting that one passenger attempted to jump from one aircraft before it impacted the ground.
The extent of injuries among first responders or other individuals in the vicinity has not been reported.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, and further information will be released as it becomes available.