Four killed after helicopter crashes on steep hillside in Rio de Janeiro

Emergency personnel stand near the site where, according to fire department officials, a helicopter crashed killing the pilot and 3 tourists. (AP Photo) Four people were killed after a helicopter crashed in Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca National Park on Saturday, Brazilian fire officials said. Brazilian media reported that three of those killed were Colombian tourists.The helicopter crashed in a mountainous part of the national park, an area covered by dense vegetation and difficult to access. Firefighters said the pilot and three women "burned to death".Images released by the fire department showed the charred wreckage of the helicopter smoking on a steep hillside.A police source told AFP that the victims had not yet been officially identified. However, local media reports said the three female passengers were Colombian nationals, while Brazilian news site G1 reported that they belonged to the same family.The crash occurred near Vista Chinesa, a replica of a Chinese pagoda located at a high altitude and known for its panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro from within the forest. The landmark also featured in the 2011 animated film "Rio".The latest crash comes less than two months after anoth...