The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) filed a public civil action to request control and safety measures for commercial helicopter flights in Rio de Janeiro. The action was filed against the Union, the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac), the State Environmental Institute (Inea) and the municipality of Rio de Janeiro.
MPF calls for safety actions for helicopter flights in Rio de Janeiro
The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) filed a public civil action to request control and safety measures for commercial helicopter flights in Rio de Janeiro. The action was filed against the Union, the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac),...
Last Saturday (8), an accident with a helicopter taking a scenic flight occurred in Tijuca National Park, close to Vista Chinesa, causing a fire and the death of three Colombian tourists, as well as the aircraft's pilot. On June 14, 2026, two helicopters collided in the air and crashed in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, in the southwest zone of...
- The accident resulted in the death of six people, including American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspi.
- The wreckage hit land used as an electric vehicle yard.
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Last Saturday (8), an accident with a helicopter taking a scenic flight occurred in Tijuca National Park, close to Vista Chinesa, causing a fire and the death of three Colombian tourists, as well as the aircraft's pilot.
On June 14, 2026, two helicopters collided in the air and crashed in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, in the southwest zone of Rio de Janeiro. The accident resulted in the death of six people, including American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspi.
The wreckage hit land used as an electric vehicle yard. The impact caused a strong explosion and a large fire, which destroyed dozens of cars at the scene.
The MPF also ordered the opening of a new civil investigation to determine the responsibility of the company Voos Rio Panorânico Serviços Aeronáuticos Ltda. for the environmental damage caused to the Tijuca National Park as a result of the aircraft crash and fire in the forest. The investigation will be carried out independently of the investigations aimed at determining the causes of the air accident.
The MPF requests that the Airspace Control Department (Decea) adopt measures so that the ordinary transit of helicopters intended for the paid transport of passengers, including scenic flights, is directed to the Praia Special Helicopter Route (REH Praia), regardless of the type of service contracted.
The route is an existing air corridor along the Rio coast, located 600 meters from the beach.
The MPF also requests, as a matter of urgency, that Decea intensify monitoring of minimum altitudes and other rules applicable to helicopter routes. The body also requests that Anac reinforce supervision of operators, preventing commercial exploitation by companies, aircraft or professionals that do not meet regulatory requirements.
The action is the result of a civil inquiry opened by the MPF to investigate the impacts caused by the expansion of scenic flights in the city. According to data gathered in the investigation, companies associated with the sector's representative entity carried out 24,681 scenic flights in one year, transporting 81,390 passengers.
"It is not intended to prohibit tourist tours by helicopter. But it is unreasonable that an activity enjoyed by a few exposes hundreds of thousands of residents and environmentally protected areas to the impacts of overflights. Rio already has a maritime route structured by Decea itself that makes it possible to reconcile tourist activity with the protection of the population and the environment", states Public Prosecutor Sergio Suiama, author of the action.
Helicopter crashes in Rio; pilot and tourists from Colombia die
The information was given by the Consul General of Colombia in Rio de Janeiro, Diana Páez, to the AFP news agency. According to the newspaper O Globo, the three victims were a grandmother, mother and daughter: Rocio Cubillos, 59 years old; Wendy Manrique, 37; and Sofia Murillo, 17 years old.