At least 10 are killed as a small plane crashes into a Brazilian town popular with tourists – National

A small plane crashed in a popular Brazilian city tourists Sunday, killing all 10 passengers on board and injuring more than a dozen people on the ground, Brazil Civil Defense Agency said.

The agency in a post on X said the plane hit the chimney of a house and then the second floor of a building before crashing into a mobile phone shop in a largely residential area of ​​Gramado. More than a dozen people who were on the ground were taken to hospitals with injuries, including smoke inhalation, two of whom were said to be in critical condition.

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It is not immediately clear what caused the accident.

Local media reported that the plane was piloted by Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, a Brazilian businessman who was traveling with his family to Sao Paulo State. In a statement published on LinkedIn, Galeazzi’s company, Galeazzi & Associados, confirmed that the 61-year-old was on the plane, adding that he was traveling with his wife, their three daughters, several other family members and another company employee, who died during the accident.

“In this moment of intense pain, we are deeply grateful for the manifestations of solidarity and love we have received from friends, colleagues and the community,” the statement said. “We also express our solidarity with those affected by this accident in the region.”

Security cameras filmed the small Piper plane taking off from Canela airport in Rio Grande do Sul State, minutes before it crashed in Gramado, which is about 10 km from the airport.

Gramado is in the Serra Gaucha mountains and popular with Brazilian tourists who enjoy the cool weather, hiking spots and traditional architecture. The town was settled in the 19th century by large numbers of German and Italian immigrants and is a popular place for Christmas holidays.