Dramatic video shows the moment a teenager was pulled alive from the wreckage of a helicopter in which three people died amid a suspected hijacking.

Daniel da Silva, 18, was saved by quick-thinking locals after the helicopter slammed into the ground in the town of Joinville, in southern Brazil, around 4pm on Thursday.

The victims were identified as pilot Antonio Mário Franco Aguiar, 57, co-pilot Bruno Siqueira, 20, and a passenger, who has not been named.

It is believed Silva and the other passenger was attempting to hijack the helicopter to be used in a jail break. Police found two firearms inside after the crash and witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the craft.

This is the moment quick-thinking locals pulled 18-year-old Daniel da Silva from the wreckage of a helicopter after it crashed into the street in Joinville, Brazil

Police believe Da Silva and an accomplice, who died in the crash, were attempting to hijack the helicopter for use in a jail break when it went down

Antonio Mário Franco Aguiar, 57, the pilot (left), and co-pilot Bruno Siqueira, 20, have been named as two of the three victims

The aircraft was run by an air-taxi company for an amusement park and used for sightseeing and chartered tours.

Investigators say the craft was booked by Silva and his accomplice who kidnapped the crew after the flight took off from Penha before it crashed 43 miles away.

It narrowly missed two houses, smashing into a wall in front of the homes and exploded setting fire to a tree.

Police said Silva was on temporary release at the time of the crash from a semi-open prison for drug trafficking convictions.

He suffered second and third degree burns across 15 per cent of his body. Investigators are waiting by his hospital bedside to question him.

The video also shows firefighters controlling the blaze which was swiftly put out as cops kept onlookers away from the scene and black smoke billowed over the city.

Detectives are working on the hypothesis the copter was commandeered to spring an inmate out of Joinville Regional Prison. The prisoner was about to be transferred to a maximum-security jail.

One of those killed has been named as Antonio Mário Franco Aguiar, 57, the pilot, while the other is believed to have been his co-pilot, who has not been named

Police believed Da Silva and his accomplice hijacked the helicopter from an amusement park where it was used for tours before ordering the pilot to fly to a prison

Police found two handguns in the wreckage and witnesses reported hearing gunshots before the helicopter crashed

The accident happened approximately 2km (just over a mile) from the penitentiary.

Witnesses told police they heard shots coming from the helicopter before it fell to the ground.

Speaking to local media, Detective Tania Harada said: 'After the pilot left Penha, he allegedly sent a code to his head office in Curitiba a few minutes into the flight, that the aircraft had been kidnapped.

'We believe the passengers announced the hijacking soon after the helicopter took off. Local witnesses have told us they were startled by shooting in the air which they believe came from the helicopter as it flew over. A pistol and a revolver were found by forensics in the wreckage.

'We suspect the aircraft was hired by the two men to fly over the Joinville area, but we are still investigating the motive and the circumstances behind what appears to be criminal activity.'

Local butcher, Tiago Gomes, an eyewitness to the accident said (to FocusOn News): 'The helicopter was flying normally then it started to spin out of control and I heard something that sounded like gunfire but it seemed really strange that this sound should be coming from an aircraft.

'The helicopter suddenly lost control and started to fall. Everyone began to scream as it crashed to the ground. Everything went mad as people rushed to the scene to see what they could do to help.'

Military police chief, Lieutenant Colonel Luis Viana de Oliveira told Joinville News: 'The helicopter pilot did not have clearance to fly over Joinville City and did not notify air traffic control of the overfly. This journey was not scheduled and was outside the company's normal fly-zone. We are investigating why he took this route.'

Investigators believe Da Silva, who was on partial release for drug offenses at the time, was intending to rescue an inmate who was about to be transferred to a different jail

A picture of the helicopter before it crashed on Thursday afternoon

The aircraft, which is owned by Avalon Air Taxi, provides chartered services for Beta Carrero World, the largest amusement park in South America and would normally be hired for a panoramic flight over the area which has over 100 attractions.

A part of the fuselage bearing the Beta Carrero World logo was found in the middle of the wreckage.

Avalon Air Taxi said the chopper, a Bell 206 jet ranger twin bladed model, was not working for the park on Thursday and 'was not operating on the service routes offered by the attraction'.

A spokesperson for theme park lamented the incident and said: 'We deeply regret the crash of an aircraft and the fatalities. We are cooperating fully with the investigation and our condolences go out the families who have lost their loved ones.'

Medical staff at Sao Jose Municipal hospital said Silva, who is under police guard, has been sedated to preserve his airways, which have suffered burn damage. No further update has been given about the state of his health.

Forensic investigators have been picking through the debris for clues. The helicopter does not carry a black box.

The Centre for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa) is working with police on the investigation into the accident.