Teen, mum & grandma die after tourist helicopter crashes & sparks huge fire as devastated family watched on from hangar

FOUR people have been killed in a horror helicopter crash during a birthday trip for a teenage girl. Three members of the same Colombian family and the pilot died when the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in the Vista Chinesa region, south of Rio de Janeiro. Four people were killed in helicopter crash in Brazil Credit: Press Release Dozens of emergency services personnel rushed to the scene Credit: Globo News Harrowing footage shows firefighters battling to reach the still-burning wreckage as flames engulfed the aircraft. All four people on board were killed in the resulting blaze. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 11am, with 40 emergency personnel and 11 vehicles sent to the crash site. But rescuers faced a treacherous operation, with the helicopter coming down in a steep, wooded area surrounded by cliffs. The helicopter came down in an area of thick woodland, frustrating rescue efforts Credit: Globo News Emergency services found smouldering bits of debris nearby Credit: Globo News The victims have been named as grandmother Rocio Cubillos, 59, mother Wendy Manrique, 37, and daughter Sofia, 17. The pilot, Alessandro Rocha, was also killed. Rocha was reportedly an experienced pilot with more than 20 years in the industry. He is survived by his partner and three children – two boys and a girl. Most read in The Sun The three Colombian tourists were reportedly on their first trip to Brazil. They arrived on Monday and were due to remain in the country until Tuesday. According to relatives, the family booked the helicopter tour after researching operators on social media. Rocio’s son, Vitor Manrique, his wife Daniela Castañeda and their 15-year-old daughter were waiting for the family to return at the hangar. The family had booked the helicopter ride to celebrate the teenager’s birthday. They became alarmed after hearing an employee say there had been a “forced landing”. The relatives said they repeatedly asked staff what had happened, but were given no information. They eventually learned of their relatives’ fate through news websites while they were still waiting at the hangar. Lieutenant Colonel Fábio Contreiras said rescuers faced major difficulties reaching the crash site. “The biggest challenge for the teams right now is access, both to enter and exit the site,” he said. “The aircraft crashed in a very steep, wooded area with precipitous cliffs, where it is only possible to work using rope techniques and safety equipment.” He added that a fire had broken out following the crash after the aircraft’s fuel ignited. “When we arrived, in addition to the helicopter, there was also a fire caused by the explosion of the aircraft’s fuel. That fire has now been completely extinguished,” he said. “Now, our challenge is to find faster access routes to facilitate the work of the Civil Police and Cenipa forensics teams, as well as the future removal of the bodies.” The exact cause of the crash remains unknown. The Brazilian Air Force said an investigation is underway to establish what caused the helicopter to come down. Comment now