A small plane crashed onto a street in São Paulo on Friday morning, killing both people on board and injuring several bystanders, authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, which had just taken off from a nearby private airport, went down in the Barra Funda neighborhood, a busy area near the city center. The crash caused debris to strike a bus and a motorcyclist, leaving both injured. Four more people sustained minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals, according to a statement from firefighters.
Eyewitness footage captures fiery wreckage
Security footage captured the moment the plane plummeted onto the road, narrowly missing a line of cars stopped at an intersection. Images shared by local media showed the aircraft’s fuselage engulfed in flames, with emergency crews working to contain the fire.
The victims have been identified as pilot Gustavo Medeiros and aircraft owner Márcio Carpena, São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas confirmed on social media.
Cause of crash under investigation
Authorities have not yet determined why the plane lost altitude less than three miles from the airport. The aircraft was bound for Porto Alegre in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The Brazilian Air Force has launched an investigation into the crash.
Brazil has seen several fatal small aircraft crashes in recent years. In August 2024, a passenger plane crashed in Vinhedo, near São Paulo, killing all 72 people on board after spiraling out of control.
