A small aviation vehicle has tragically collided with a well-known tourist destination in Brazil, resulting in the fatalities of all ten individuals onboard, as informed by authorities.
Additionally, over a dozen individuals on the ground sustained injuries when the aircraft descended in the heart of Gramado, situated in the southern region of the nation, on Sunday, as stated by Brazil‘s civil protection agency.
In a statement shared on X, the agency detailed that the plane struck the chimney of a residence prior to impacting the second floor of a structure, ultimately crashing into a mobile phone retail outlet within a predominantly residential area.
The aircraft’s proprietor and operator, Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, perished alongside the other nine passengers, all reportedly his relatives, as per comments from Rio Grande do Sul governor Eduardo Leite.
During a press briefing, he indicated that 17 people on the ground had been injured, with 12 currently under medical care, including two individuals in a critical state.
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The twin-engine Piper PA-42-1000 departed shortly after 9 a.m. local time from the adjacent Canela airport, en route to Jundiaí in São Paulo state, amidst adverse weather conditions, as reported by the governor.
The inquiry into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
Gramado, nestled in the Serra Gaucha mountains, stands as the foremost tourist attraction in Rio Grande do Sul.
The Christmas season is notably a peak time for the city, famous for its enchanting decorations and festive celebrations.