Four dead as helicopter crashes in Rio forest near tourist viewpoint

A helicopter crash in a forested area of Rio de Janeiro on Saturday killed all four people on board, according to local firefighters. The aircraft went down near the Vista Chinesa viewpoint, a popular tourist spot inside Tijuca National Park.

Lieutenant Colonel Fábio Contreiras of the Rio de Janeiro Military Fire Brigade said the helicopter was located in dense, difficult-to-access vegetation. Ground teams reached the site and confirmed four victims — the male pilot and three female passengers — who were charred in the fire.

Local media reports indicate the three passengers were Colombian tourists who had hired a "doors-off" flight for panoramic views of the city. The crash site is close to Vista Chinesa, which offers sweeping views of Christ the Redeemer, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Ipanema and Leblon beaches, the Botanical Garden, and part of Guanabara Bay.

This is the second helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro in less than two months. Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said he has contacted the president of the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and sent a formal letter requesting immediate action regarding flights in the city.

An investigation into the cause of the crash has been opened by CENIPA, Brazil's Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aviation Accidents. Firefighters and first responders remain at the scene.