Fourteen People Killed in Plane Crash in Brazil’s Amazonas State
SAO PAULO, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Tragedy struck in Brazil’s northern Amazonas state on Saturday as a small jet crashed, resulting in the death of all fourteen people on board, according to the state’s governor.
The incident occurred in the Barcelos province, approximately 400 km (248 miles) away from the state capital of Manaus. The victims included twelve passengers and two crew members.
“I deeply regret the death of the 12 passengers and two crew members who were victims of the plane crash in Barcelos on Saturday,” expressed Wilson Lima, the Governor of Amazonas state, on the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter). He further extended his sympathy and prayers to the families and friends of the victims.
Following the crash, the Manaus Aerotaxi airline released a statement confirming the occurrence and stating that an investigation was underway. However, no specific details regarding the number of casualties or injuries were provided.
“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 airline’s statement read.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has also been alerted and announced that investigators from the Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) have been summoned to determine the cause of the accident. The crashed aircraft has been identified as an Embraer Bandeirante with the registration PT-SOG.
Governor Lima, during an interview with O Globo newspaper, mentioned that the bodies had already been recovered from the wreckage and identified the victims as Brazilian tourists. He also speculated that heavy rainfall in the region may have contributed to the accident, citing a likely error in the landing route.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities anticipate uncovering more information regarding the circumstances that led to the tragic event.
Reporting by Steven Grattan; Editing by David Gregorio and Kim Coghill
Note: This article adheres to the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.