A tragic plane accident occurred in a Brazilian tourist town on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of all ten individuals aboard the aircraft and injuring over a dozen people on the ground, as reported by Brazil’s Civil Defense Agency.
The agency shared on X that the small plane collided with a home’s chimney before crashing into the second floor of a nearby building and ultimately landing in a mobile phone store within a residential area of Gramado. More than a dozen individuals on the ground were hospitalized for various injuries, including smoke inhalation, with reports indicating that two among them are in critical condition.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Local news sources noted that the aircraft was piloted by Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, a Brazilian businessman en route to Sao Paulo State with his family. Galeazzi’s company, Galeazzi & Associados, confirmed in a statement on LinkedIn that the 61-year-old was a passenger on the flight, along with his wife, their three daughters, additional family members, and another employee of the company, all of whom tragically lost their lives in the incident.
In their statement, the company expressed gratitude for the outpouring of solidarity and support from friends, colleagues, and the community during this painful time. They also extended their sympathies to those affected by the accident in the area.
Security cameras captured footage of the small Piper aircraft taking off from Canela airport in Rio Grande do Sul State just moments before it crashed in Gramado, located roughly 10 kilometers from the airport.
Gramado, situated in the Serra Gaucha mountains, is a favored destination for Brazilian tourists who appreciate its cool climate, hiking opportunities, and charming traditional architecture. The town has historical roots, having been founded by a wave of German and Italian immigrants during the 19th century, and it remains a popular location for Christmas vacations.
