According to a statement from the Colombian consulate in Brazil, at least four people died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro. The victims included a pilot and three Colombian women, all members of the same family.
The incident occurred on Saturday, when the group was taking a sightseeing flight over Tijuca National Park, a densely forested mountainous area on the city's edge. The crash site was near Vista Chinesa, a famous viewpoint with a small bamboo pagoda. Tijuca Park is a top destination in Rio de Janeiro and is home to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere expressed condolences to the victims' families in a social media post. He said he had contacted Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to request enhanced safety oversight of helicopter flights. Cavaliere even suggested possibly suspending this type of tourism for one to two weeks to implement new safety measures.
According to Diana Paez, the Colombian Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, the three women who died were the grandmother, aunt, and cousin of a young girl. Their family had come to the city to celebrate the girl's 15th birthday. The group of six had to split into two flights because the helicopter could only carry three passengers.
Sightseeing helicopters are increasingly popular with tourists in Rio de Janeiro, but they also raise safety concerns. In June of this year, six people died when two helicopters collided over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes area in the western part of the city.
