The accident occurred in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro; the aircraft crashed in nearby areas, and one of them hit the yard of an electric car dealership
A serious air accident involving two helicopters left six people dead on the morning of this Sunday (14), in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro. The mid-air collision occurred at around 8:30 a.m. and mobilized emergency teams after the aircraft crashed in nearby areas, causing a fire and destruction at the scene.
According to the information released so far, one of the helicopters crashed on the grounds of a former church, while the other hit the yard of an electric car dealership. The impact caused a large explosion, and the flames spread to parked vehicles, completely destroying more than 20 cars.
Among the identified victims are American singer Oliver Tree Nickell, 32, who was in Brazil during a world tour, and Argentine digital influencer Gaspar Prim Díaz, known as Gaspi. Lucas Vignale, Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charlie Marsillac also died.
According to initial reports, five people were in one of the helicopters, while the second aircraft was occupied only by the pilot. There were no survivors. The confirmation of the victims caused strong emotion on social media, especially among fans of the American artist and the Argentine content creator.
The Brazilian Air Force reported that investigators from the Third Regional Service for the Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents, Seripa 3, were called in to carry out the initial response to the occurrence. The work includes data collection, preservation of evidence, assessment of the damage caused to the aircraft, and gathering information that may help clarify the causes of the collision.
The aircraft involved were identified by the registrations PP-MAC and PR-DJJ. The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the flight, communication between the pilots, operating conditions, and the dynamics of the mid-air collision.
The case also drew attention because of the crash site. In addition to the human tragedy, the accident directly hit a yard containing electric vehicles, which increased material damage and required swift action by firefighting teams to control the flames and prevent new explosion points.
NEW: Six people have died after 2 helicopters collide mid-air in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Southwest of Rio de Janeiro.
The Fire Department was called at 8:59 am to the accident. One helicopter crashed on the grounds of an abandoned church and the other exploded when it hit the… pic.twitter.com/KjRbsWYHyJ
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) June 14, 2026
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Source and images: Brazilian Air Force | Instagram @olivertree | X @aviationbrk. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
