Fourteen people are killed in Brazil when plane carrying tourists crashes ‘due to pilot error while trying to land during rain storm’
- The 12 passengers and two crew members – all men – were flying from Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, to Barcelos, a 90 minute flight upriver
- The plane crashed while attempting to land, killing all those on board: locals said it was raining very heavily at the time
- Wilson Lima, the governor of Amazonas state, confirmed the deaths of all on board and said they were Brazilian tourists heading out on a fishing trip
Twelve Brazilian men flying into the Amazon on a fishing trip have died in a plane crash, along with the pilot and co-pilot of their small plane.
The accident took place on Saturday morning in the Barcelos province, some 248 miles from the state capital, Manaus.
The Manaus Aerotaxi airline confirmed that all those on board the Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante, a turboprop light aircraft, died in the crash.
‘I deeply regret the death of the 12 passengers and two crew members who were victims of the plane crash in Barcelos on Saturday,’ said Wilson Lima, governor of Amazonas state.
‘Our teams have been working from the outset to provide the necessary support. My sympathy and prayers go out to their families and friends.’
A light aircraft carrying 14 people – 12 passengers, a pilot and co-pilot – crashed on Saturday in the Amazon
The plane came down in heavy rain, the governor of Amazonas state confirmed
Amazonas State Security Secretary, Colonel Vinicius Almeida (C), flanked by the commander of the Seventh Regional Air Command (VII COMAR), David Almeida (L) and the mayor of Barcelos, Edson Mendes, speaks during a press conference in Manaus on Saturday discussing the crash
Lima said that the bodies had already been removed from the aircraft and that the victims were Brazilian tourists.
Lima also added that the region faces heavy rainfall and the most likely cause of the accident was an error in the route taken at the time of landing.
The airline said it was investigating, but offering no details about deaths or injuries.
‘We count on respect for the privacy of those involved at this difficult time and will be available to provide all necessary information and updates as the investigation progresses,’ the statement said.
The Brazilian Air Force said in a statement that investigators from the Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) had been called in to begin an investigation.
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