Tragedy struck in Gramado, southern Brazil, as ten family members perished in a devastating private plane crash. The incident, involving a small aircraft piloted by Brazilian businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, resulted in the loss of his wife, three daughters, and several other relatives.
According to reports, the plane collided with a building chimney, a house, and a shop during its descent. Local authorities confirmed that the crash injured 17 individuals on the ground, with two sustaining serious injuries.
Mr. Galeazzi, aged 61, was reportedly en route to Jundiaí in São Paulo state when the incident occurred on Sunday morning. All victims were members of his family, as confirmed by Rio Grande do Sul state governor Eduardo Leite, who noted that the flight had taken off under unfavorable weather conditions.
Eyewitnesses reported that the plane flew for approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) before crashing in the urban area just moments after takeoff. “At the time, it was revving up. You could see that it was accelerating a lot,” said local resident Nadia Hansen, recounting the harrowing event. “There was a bang as it hit the building, and then it passed close to my house before falling.”
Images from the scene depicted emergency responders working amid the wreckage of the aircraft and damaged properties. Mr. Galeazzi served as the chief executive of a corporate restructuring and crisis management firm based in São Paulo, which publicly expressed its condolences in the wake of the tragedy.
In a statement, the firm honored his dedication to family and highlighted his influential career. “We sympathize with all those affected by the accident in the region,” they stated, pledging full cooperation with ongoing investigations.
The crash occurred near the center of Gramado, impacting a home, a furniture store, and a hotel. The Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa) is leading the investigation into the cause of the accident. Governor Leite assured that state resources are mobilized to provide necessary assistance during this difficult time.
Gramado, a renowned tourist destination, has recently faced challenges, including severe flooding earlier this year that devastated the region, claiming numerous lives and displacing around 150,000 residents.
