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Or sign-in if you have an account.An aerial view shows the site of a helicopter crash in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, 2026. At least six people died in Brazil on June 14 after two helicopters crashed in western Rio de Janeiro, after a suspected mid-air collision, firefighters said. Photo by Tercio TEIXEIRA /AFPAt least six people died in Brazil on Sunday after two helicopters collided in western Rio de Janeiro, firefighters said.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. 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Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe helicopters crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that engulfed at least 20 vehicles.A statement from firefighters said that initial reports pointed to a mid-air collision, adding “six fatalities have been confirmed, all were crew members of the aircraft involved in the accident.”Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said that there were “foreign nationals on board one of the aircraft,” without giving further details.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againFire services spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Contreiras told CNN Brasil at the scene that it was unclear exactly how the accident unfolded.“Parts of the aircraft are scattered hundreds of meters away, so the information we have is still very preliminary. We really need to get the recordings and videos to understand exactly what happened,” he said.Contreiras said rescue workers had discovered one helicopter in flames among the electric cars, with five victims inside.A second helicopter, found some 100 meters away, was carrying only the pilot, who also died. An aerial view shows the aftermath of a helicopter crash in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, 2026. At least six people died in Brazil on June 14 after two helicopters crashed in western Rio de Janeiro, after a suspected mid-air collision, firefighters said. Photo by TERCIO TEIXEIRA /AFP via Getty ImagesThe accident took place in the suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes.Images in local media showed a thick plume of black smoke rising from the car dealership, where several vehicles were on fire.Contreiras said the fact that the aircraft had crashed in the parking area had prevented a higher death toll.“Given the surrounding residences, the accident could have been far more tragic,” he said.He highlighted the challenges in fighting a fire impacting electric vehicles, which contain lithium-ion batteries.“When this type of battery catches fire, it releases highly toxic gases and intensifies both the temperature and the severity of the blaze. Extinguishing a fire in one of these vehicles requires three to four times the amount of water needed for a fire in a standard car.”Small aircraft crashes are common in Brazil, the world’s fifth-largest country.Last month a small plane crashed into the side of a building in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte, killing the pilot and copilot.According to statistics from the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) — not including this latest collision — there have been 84 aircraft accidents in 2026 so far, leaving 25 people dead.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. 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