Two helicopters collided mid-air on Sunday, June 14, 2026, above the western Rio de Janeiro suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Brazil, killing all six people on board both aircrafts [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The collision caused both helicopters to crash into a parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that burned at least 20 vehicles [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The victims were all crew members or passengers of the aircraft, including American singer and internet personality Oliver Tree, a Brazilian music producer, Argentine video director, and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim [1, 7]. Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said there were "foreign nationals on board one of the aircraft," without providing further details [1].
One helicopter carried a pilot and four passengers, while the other was operated solely by a pilot [1, 4]. Firefighters reported that the fire was intensified by lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicles, which released highly toxic gases and required three to four times more water than usual to extinguish. Fire services spokesman Fabio Contreiras said, "When this type of battery catches fire, it releases highly toxic gases and intensifies both the temperature and severity of the blaze. Extinguishing a fire in one of these vehicles requires three to four times the amount of water needed for a standard car fire." [2]
The crash caused a large blaze with thick black smoke and secondary explosions visible from miles away [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Debris from the helicopters scattered up to about 100 meters from the crash site, with parts landing on nearby building terraces [2, 4]. Firefighters arrived around 9 a.m. local time and brought the fire under control by 10 a.m., preventing further spread [3].
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the mid-air collision, but no clear cause has been determined as of now [2, 7, 5, 6]. Helicopter collisions and small aircraft accidents occur relatively frequently in Brazil [2, 3, 5].
