Kathmandu— A helicopter crash in the mountainous forest of Tijuca National Park killed four people on Saturday, including a pilot and three women from a single Colombian family. The accident occurred near the Vista Chinesa lookout point while the group was on a sightseeing flight over the densely forested area on the edge of Rio de Janeiro.

Victims Identified

The victims included the pilot and three Colombian women who were members of the same family. According to Diana Paez, the Colombian consul general in Rio de Janeiro, the family had traveled to the city to celebrate a girl’s 15th birthday.

The group of six had split into two separate parties because the helicopter could only accommodate three passengers. The grandmother, aunt, and cousin of the birthday girl were the three victims identified in the crash.

Calls for Increased Oversight

In the wake of the tragedy, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere expressed his solidarity to the families of the victims and called for intensified oversight of helicopter flights. The mayor suggested that such flights could be suspended “for a week or two” while new safety measures are implemented.

Cavaliere stated that City Hall has requested that Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) take immediate action to ensure safety in helicopter flights, which are circulating with increasing frequency in the city. He noted that the city’s full apparatus is at the disposal of ANAC to support any necessary actions.

Rising Safety Concerns

Helicopter rides have become a popular method for tourists to view Rio de Janeiro’s monuments from above, but the practice has faced growing scrutiny regarding safety. This incident follows a recent midair collision between two helicopters over the western suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes on June 14, which resulted in six deaths.

The investigation into the cause of the crash remains a priority for aviation authorities.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.