A plane crashed into a residential building in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Monday, May 4th, shortly after takeoff, injuring three and killing two pilots.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Monday, May 4th. The aircraft departed from Belo Horizonte airport at 12:16 local time (17:16 in Poland). Immediately after takeoff, the plane struck a residential building.
Video footage shows the plane flying low over the city and making a left turn before colliding with the building and falling onto the parking lot.
Casualties Reported
According to the fire department, there were five people on board the aircraft. Three passengers were transported to the hospital in serious condition. The BBC reports that both pilots died in the crash.
Building Residents Unharmed
Rescuers arrived at the scene around 12:25. A fuel leak occurred after the plane hit the building, but firefighters neutralized the explosion risk. Initial reports indicate no residents of the building were injured.
Eyewitness Account
Avani Soares, a resident of the building, described the event: “Everything went dark, a lot of debris fell, I thought the world was ending. People on the second floor were screaming for help. I didn’t know what to do.”
Aircraft Information
According to Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, the aircraft was an EMB-721C model manufactured in 1979. The plane did not have the permits required for commercial passenger transport, indicating it may have been for private use only.
