- Title: REFILE: Small plane crashes into Brazil tourist city, killing at least 10
- Date: 22nd December 2024
- Summary: GRAMADO, RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL (DECEMBER 22, 2024) (REUTERS) STORE ENTRANCE DESTROYED AND DEBRIS ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) WITNESS, JESSICA CAROLINA SILVA MAIA, SAYING: "The first noise was a lot of broken glass; I thought it was some piece of furniture that had fallen with a lot of glass. But when I saw the flash coming from the bathroom, my husband opened the window and saw everything red outside; then he said, 'It's fire; we're going to die.' It was at that moment of desperation that we ran." AMBULANCES, POLICE VEHICLES AND FIRE TRUCK AT CRASH SITE / DESTROYED HOME AND STORE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) WITNESS, NADIA HANSEN, SAYING: "At the time, it was revving up. You could see that it was accelerating a lot. Then there was a bang as it hit the building and then it passed close to my house and then it fell, and I thought it had dropped in front of the house."
- Embargoed: 5th January 2025 20:30
- Keywords: Brazil air accident aircrash airplane disaster
- Location: GRAMADO, RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL
- City: GRAMADO, RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Air Accidents,Disaster/Accidents,South America / Central America
- Reuters ID: LVA003893622122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING
A small plane carrying 10 people crashed into shops in the center of the tourist city of Gramado in southern Brazil on Sunday (December 22), killing everyone on board, state government officials said.
The aircraft owner and pilot, Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, died along with the other nine passengers, all of whom were members of his family, according to Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite.
In addition, 17 people on the ground were injured, Leite said at a press conference, with 12 still receiving hospital care, including two in critical condition.
Manufactured in 1990, the twin-engine Piper PA-42-1000 took off shortly after 9 am local time from nearby Canela airport and was heading to Jundiai in Sao Paulo state under unfavorable weather conditions, the governor said.
He noted that the cause of the crash is being investigated by the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa).
The plane reportedly first struck the chimney of a building then the second floor of a house before crashing into a furniture store, authorities said. Debris also reached a nearby inn.
Nestled in a mountainous region, Gramado is the most popular tourist destination in Rio Grande do Sul, which was severely impacted earlier this year by unprecedented floods that claimed dozens of lives, destroyed infrastructure and significantly disrupted the state's economy.
The accident occurred just days before Christmas, a particularly busy period for the city, which is traditionally adorned with decorations and hosts festive events.
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