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BRCulture5 days ago

Anac is investigating whether the helicopter that crashed was carrying a smuggled shipment .

The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) is investigating whether one of the helicopters involved in a crash on Sunday was engaged in illegal air transport. The agency received a complaint in 2025 regarding the helicopter with registration PP-MAC, which led to an investigation into alleged violations, including refusal to provide information to Anac. The helicopter was placed under monitoring by enforcement units but was not found during inspections in 2025 and 2026 at nine airports in Rio de Janeiro. Two helicopters collided and crashed near the Avenida das Américas in the southwest zone of 

O helicóptero PR-DJJ, envolvido na colisão aérea que deixou seis pessoas mortas neste domingo (14) no Rio de Janeiro , é objeto de um modelo de prestação de serviço com a prefeitura carioca considerado irregular pela Anac (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil).

Informações obtidas pela Folha mostram que, embora estivesse registrada para uso privado, a aeronave fazia parte de acordo com a prefeitura do Rio que previa um tipo de permuta, com a oferta periódica de horas de voo ao município, em troca do direito de utilizar o heliponto da Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, na zona sul da cidade.

O helicóptero, que neste domingo era ocupado pelo piloto Charles Marsillac —morto na queda—, era um modelo AS 350 B2, de 2012, segundo dados da Anac.

Documentos obtidos pela reportagem mostram que o proprietário da aeronave, Maurício da Cunha e Silva Espíndola Dias, assinou, em abril de 2025, um termo de compromisso com o Centro de Operações e Resiliência da prefeitura do Rio.

No acordo, o empresário oferece uma hora de voo ao município a cada 24 pousos realizados por seu helicóptero na área de pouso municipal ou a cada 60 dias, o que ocorrer primeiro.

A Folha entrou em contato por telefone com Maurício da Cunha e Silva Espíndola Dias por volta das 19h30 deste domingo (14), mas ele não quis se manifestar sobre o assunto. A reportagem também questionou a prefeitura por telefone e por email às 19h45, mas não houve posicionamento até a publicação deste texto.

O helicóptero estava registrado na categoria TPP (Transporte Privado de Pessoas), modalidade destinada a aeronaves particulares. Essa classificação permite ao proprietário utilizar o helicóptero para deslocamentos próprios, de familiares ou ligados à sua atividade privada. Não é permitido que a aeronave preste serviços de transporte, o que enseja uma relação comercial, mesmo que indireta.

A avaliação de técnicos do setor ouvidos pela reportagem é que, embora não houvesse pagamento em dinheiro pela prefeitura, o operador do helicóptero recebia um benefício econômico concreto, com o direito de utilizar uma infraestrutura pública que é altamente valorizada no mercado de helicópteros da cidade.

O documento firmado com a prefeitura reforça o caráter econômico da contrapartida. O termo estabelece que, em caso de descumprimento das obrigações, o valor da hora de voo seria calculado com base em pesquisas realizadas junto a empresas de táxi aéreo do Rio de Janeiro, ou seja, a administração municipal reconhece formalmente que aquela hora de voo tem valor de mercado.

O acordo, que tem validade de 24 meses e foi assinado pelo Centro de Operações e Resiliência, também prevê obrigações operacionais para o proprietário da aeronave, como manter pessoal para auxiliar no funcionamento do heliponto.

O voo que resultou no acidente não envolvia prestação de serviço para a prefeitura. A tragédia que matou todos os ocupantes dos dois helicópteros passou a ser investigada pelo Cenipa (Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos), órgão da FAB (Força Aérea Brasileira).

O acordo entre o empresário e a prefeitura não é um caso isolado. A gestão carioca mantém esse tipo de permuta com diversos operadores de helicópteros. Esse modelo, porém, era desconhecido da Anac, responsável por fiscalizar a categoria de registro das aeronaves, a exploração de serviços aéreos e o cumprimento das regras, tanto de transporte privado quanto daquele que é remunerado.

Questionada se há autorização para que um helicóptero registrado na categoria de transporte privado forneça horas de voo a um órgão público como contrapartida pelo uso de um heliponto, a agência foi taxativa.

"Não pode. Aeronaves privadas (não certificadas para transporte/panorâmico) não podem receber compensação para realizar voos. Aeronaves desse tipo devem ser utilizadas para benefício do seu proprietário ou operador e seus convidados. O transporte não pode ser cobrado", afirmou a Anac.

Perguntada se tinha conhecimento desse tipo de acordo, a agência declarou que "tomou conhecimento da utilização de contrapartida em horas de voo para utilização de infraestrutura pública e está avaliando a legalidade frente aos regulamentos existentes".

Helicópteros colidiram no ar

Os helicópteros colidiram pouco antes das 9h deste domingo e caíram em um pátio de veículo da BYD, na avenida das Américas. Cerca de 15 veículos elétricos foram incendiados e outros cinco, danificados.

Entre as vítimas estão o cantor norte-americano Oliver Tree, que estava em turnê no país, o produtor musical e DJ brasileiro Lucas Frota, o influenciador argentino Gaspi e o cineasta argentino Lucas Vignale, que seguiam para Angra dos Reis no helicóptero pilotado por Alexandre Souza.

A outra aeronave, na qual estava apenas o piloto, havia decolado do aeroporto Santos Dumont e tinha como destino a região serrana para buscar passageiros.

O prefeito do Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Cavaliere ( PSD ), afirmou que os pilotos envolvidos no acidente eram experientes e que conhecia…

Read the full article at Folha de S.Paulo
Source document: Anac (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil)

8 reports

CartaCapitalIndependentCenter5 days ago
Anac is investigating whether the helicopter that crashed was carrying a smuggled shipment .

The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) is investigating whether one of the helicopters involved in a crash on Sunday was engaged in illegal air transport. The agency received a complaint in 2025 regarding the helicopter with registration PP-MAC, which led to an investigation into alleged violations, including refusal to provide information to Anac. The helicopter was placed under monitoring by enforcement units but was not found during inspections in 2025 and 2026 at nine airports in Rio de Janeiro. Two helicopters collided and crashed near the Avenida das Américas in the southwest zone of 

Bias read (Center): The article reports on an ongoing investigation by Anac regarding potential illegal air transport involving a helicopter that crashed. It provides factual details about the investigation, the helicopter in question, and the incident itself without apparent bias or ideological framing.

Official sources cited

  • government Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (Anac)
Folha de S.PauloIndependentCenter5 days ago
Anac will review helicopter contracts signed by Rio's mayor

The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) has announced it will review contracts between helicopter operators and the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro following a report by Folha de S.Paulo revealing potential irregularities. The investigation follows an aerial collision involving a helicopter registered for private use but with a service agreement with the city, which included flight hours in exchange for access to a helipad. Anac stated it is evaluating other contracts related to the use of the helipad and emphasized that the facility remains structurally compliant.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring any political side. It reports on regulatory actions taken by Anac in response to a reported incident, citing official statements and the agency’s commitment to compliance. There is no evident ideological framing or biased language.

Official sources cited

  • government Anac statement
Folha de S.PauloIndependentCenter6 days ago
Rio de Janeiro accounts for 6 out of 10 helicopter occurrences in Brazil, indicate Cenipa data

Rio de Janeiro accounts for 64% of helicopter accidents and incidents in Brazil between 2025 and 2026, according to data from Cenipa (Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aerospace Accidents). In the period from January 2025 to June 2026, out of 317 recorded occurrences nationwide, 204 happened in Rio de Janeiro, with 62 occurring this year alone. The most recent accident reported by Sipaer (Aerospace Accident Investigation and Prevention System) was on June 5. A recent collision between two helicopters in Recreio dos Bandeirantes resulted in six fatalities. The helicopters crashed on a

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data without overtly biased language or framing. It reports on helicopter accident statistics and includes details about a specific incident without taking a stance or emphasizing particular political perspectives.

Official sources cited

  • government Cenipa (Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos)
  • government Anac (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil)
Folha de S.PauloIndependentCenter6 days ago
Anac asks if the helicopter involved in the collis in Rio was carrying out clandestine transportation

The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) in Brazil has announced an investigation into whether one of the helicopters involved in a mid-air collision over Rio de Janeiro was engaged in illegal passenger transport. The incident occurred on Sunday and resulted in six fatalities, including two pilots and four passengers. One of the helicopters, with registration PP-MAC, did not have authorization for paid passenger transportation but was carrying several celebrities, including Argentine YouTuber Gaspi, American singer Oliver Tree, Brazilian music producer Lucas Frota, and Argentine filmmaker Luc

Bias read (Center): The article reports on an aviation safety issue involving a mid-air collision and subsequent investigation by Anac. It provides factual details about the incident, the individuals involved, and the agency’s response without apparent ideological framing or biased language.

Official sources cited

  • government Anac (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil)
Folha de S.PauloIndependentCenter6 days ago
Helicopter involved in a collision in Rio had hours of flight to the city hall without Anac authorization

The helicopter involved in an aerial collision in Rio de Janeiro, which resulted in six deaths, was part of an agreement with the city's mayor's office that the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) considers irregular. The aircraft, registered for private use, was reportedly providing flight hours to the municipality in exchange for access to the Lagoon Rodrigo de Freitas helipad. The owner of the helicopter signed a commitment letter with the city's Operations and Resilience Center in April 2025, offering one hour of flight for every 24 landings or every 60 days, whichever comes first. The业主

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring any political side. It focuses on the technical and legal aspects of the helicopter's operation and the agreement with the city, without using loaded language or emphasizing particular political viewpoints.

Official sources cited

Folha de S.PauloIndependentCenter7 days ago
Helicopters that collided in Rio were flying in an operation based on pilots' observations

The collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro, which resulted in six deaths, occurred during a visual flight operation. According to Raul Marinho, technical director of the Brazilian General Aviation Association (ABAG), pilots are primarily responsible for maintaining separation between aircraft through visual observation. The traffic follows predefined visual corridors established by the Department of Airspace Control (Decea), functioning like virtual avenues in the sky. Pilots use visual references, GPS, or navigation apps to follow these routes, but the main tool for avoiding mid‑

Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual explanation of aviation procedures and does not take a stance on any political issue. It focuses on technical details related to helicopter operations and safety protocols.

Official sources cited

  • statement Raul Marinho
Folha de S.PauloIndependentCenter7 days ago
Helicopters pass very close to each other, says resident after aircraft accident in Rio

A retired woman named Jeane Canivello stated that helicopters often fly very close to each other in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes area in the southwest of Rio de Janeiro, where a collision between two aircraft killed six people this Sunday.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on an accident involving helicopters without taking a stance or showing bias in the description of events. It includes a statement from a resident but does not frame the information with any particular ideological slant.

Folha de S.PauloIndependentCenter7 days ago
Six people die after a collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro

Six people died after a collision between two helicopters occurred on Sunday (14th) on Avenida das Américas in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes area of Rio de Janeiro. According to the Fire Department, both aircraft crashed into a parking lot belonging to a BYD electric car dealership. All victims were crew members aboard the helicopters. Five were on a helicopter heading to Angra dos Reis, which had just taken off, while the other helicopter, which had departed from Santos Dumont Airport for refueling, contained only the pilot who also died. The spokesperson for the Fire Department, Fábio Contreí

Bias read (Center): The article reports on an accident involving six fatalities without taking a stance on any political issue. It provides factual details about the incident, including the location, the number of casualties, and quotes from officials involved in the investigation. There is no indication of biased word

Official sources cited

  • government Corpo de Bombeiros
  • press release GloboNews

Go to the primary sources (8)

The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.

  • governmentAgência Nacional de Aviação Civil (Anac)
  • governmentAnac statement
  • governmentCenipa (Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos)
  • governmentAnac (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil)
  • governmentAnac (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil)
  • statementRaul Marinho
  • governmentCorpo de Bombeiros
  • press_releaseGloboNews