Helicopter crash in Rio's Tijuca National Park kills four, including three Colombian tourists
A helicopter carrying tourists crashed Saturday in Rio de Janeiro's mountainous Tijuca National Park, killing the pilot and three Colombian family members who were celebrating a 15th birthday.
Four killed in helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro
Four people died Saturday when a tourist helicopter crashed in Tijuca National Park, a mountainous forested area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian authorities confirmed. The victims included the pilot and three Colombian women from the same family.
The aircraft went down near Vista Chinesa, a pagoda-style monument built between 1902 and 1906 that sits 380 meters above sea level. The landmark, which honors Chinese culture and historical tea cultivation efforts in Brazil, offers panoramic views of Rio and appeared in the 2011 animated film Rio.
Firefighters who reached the crash site reported that all four occupants "burned to death" in the impact. Images released by the fire department showed the smoking wreckage on a steep hillside within the park's dense vegetation. Tijuca National Park, which covers approximately 39.58 square kilometers, is one of the world's largest urban reforested areas and was declared a national park in 1961 following a major reforestation project.
Family tragedy during birthday celebration
Diana Paez, Colombia's Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, told AFP that the three women were part of a family group of six who had traveled to the Brazilian city to celebrate a young girl's 15th birthday. The helicopter could only accommodate three passengers, so the family had split into two groups.
The victims were the birthday girl's grandmother, aunt and cousin. The teenager was scheduled to take a second flight later with her father and his partner. The consulate provided support to Brazilian authorities in identifying the victims, a difficult process due to the condition of the remains.
Growing safety concerns
The incident marks the second deadly helicopter accident in Rio de Janeiro this year. In June, two helicopters collided over the city, killing six people including American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim.
Helicopter tours are a popular attraction for visitors wanting aerial views of Rio's famous beaches, mountains and urban landscape. Following Saturday's crash, Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere posted on X that he has asked Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency to immediately increase monitoring to ensure flight safety.
The National Civil Aviation Agency, known as ANAC, was created in 2005 to regulate and inspect civil aviation activities in Brazil. The agency oversees commercial helicopter operations under RBAC 135 regulations, which require regular safety briefings, annual airframe inspections and 100-hour engine inspections for tourist flights.
Tijuca National Park, which received over 3.3 million visitors in 2016, remains one of Rio's most popular tourist destinations, combining natural beauty with cultural landmarks in the heart of the metropolis.
