2 Helicopters Collide Over Rio, Killing 6 and Torching 20 EVs

3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 14

Six people died after two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro's Recreio dos Bandeirantes suburb and crashed into an electric-car dealership parking lot, where about 20 vehicles caught fire.
Firefighters said lithium-ion batteries made the blaze harder to control, releasing toxic gases and requiring three to four times more water than a standard car fire.
Rescuers found five victims in one burning helicopter among the cars and the pilot of the second aircraft about 100 meters away; debris was scattered hundreds of meters from the site.
Authorities are reviewing recordings to determine the cause, and the crash adds to Brazil's frequent aviation accidents after 84 aircraft accidents had already been recorded in 2026.