Small Aircraft Crashes in Brazilian Indigenous Village, Killing Flight Instructor

A small aircraft crashed into an indigenous village in Peruíbe, coastal São Paulo, killing one person and injuring another on Sunday afternoon, March 9.

The Fire Department confirmed the accident occurred around 5:50 PM in the Awa Porangawa Dju village within the Piaçaguera Indigenous Land. The plane, a Cessna 150J (registration PT-AKY) owned by Itanhaém Aeroclub, spiraled out of control before impact.

A dramatic video captured the aircraft spinning in the air moments before crashing into the indigenous territory. Emergency teams found the flight instructor dead at the scene.

Rescue crews worked for approximately three hours to free the student pilot trapped in the wreckage. They transported the injured survivor to Jorge Rossmann Regional Hospital in neighboring Itanhaém.

Authorities have not released the identities of either victim. The Cessna took off from Itanhaém Airport at 5:16 PM during a routine training flight. The aircraft emitted a distress alert at 5:42 PM, just minutes before crashing.

Rede Voa, the private company managing Itanhaém Airport, confirmed these details in an official statement. Fifteen firefighters in five vehicles responded to the emergency.

Rescue Operations and Investigation Underway

The Mobile Emergency Care Service, Peruíbe’s Municipal Civil Defense Department, and Military Police provided additional support at the crash site.

The accident happened near Mogi das Cruzes Street in the Gaivota neighborhood, along the border between Peruíbe and Itanhaém municipalities. The forested location complicated rescue efforts considerably.

The National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples reported no injuries among village residents. Trees downed during the crash blocked access roads to several homes within the Tupi Guarani community.

The Brazilian Air Force immediately dispatched investigators from the Fourth Regional Service for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents. These specialists will collect evidence, assess aircraft damage, and gather critical information to determine the cause.

Investigators follow standard protocols for aircraft accident investigations in Brazil. The Air Force has not released any preliminary findings regarding potential factors that led to the crash.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error