The helicopter came down in the western part of the city, known as the City of God, after a day of intense shootings, according to the Globo news website.
Police officers were reportedly involved in a security operation that was launched after criminals opened fire at drivers, stopping traffic on the nearby motorway.
The outlet said the crew were supporting police on the ground and appeared to have made a hard landing, although the reason for this was not immediately clear.
Four police officers die in helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro
20 November 2016
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A military police helicopter crashed in the slums of Rio de Janeiro late Saturday, killing four officers on board, local media reported.
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