Tragedy struck over the weekend as a small passenger aircraft crashed in the Brazilian rainforest, resulting in the deaths of all 14 on board, as the Associated Press reports.
The devastating news was confirmed via a post on X (formerly Twitter) from Gov. Wilson Lima of Amazonas state, who said, “I deeply regret the death of the 12 passengers and two crew members who were victims of the plane crash in Barcelos on Saturday.”
Crash landing
According to reports, the ill-fated flight began roughly 250 miles from the state capital of Manaus, which is also the largest city in the Amazon rainforest.
The Embraer PT-SOG craft was apparently attempting to land amid a heavy downpour when the crash occurred.
Footage taken at the crash site revealed that the plane came to rest on a muddy track, with its front portion covered in foliage.
Investigation underway
In the wake of the deadly incident, a team was sent to the area within the Barcelos province by the Brazilian air force in order to gather data and preserve evidence from the scene.
Lima indicated that the region in which the crash occurred is known for its intense precipitation, as Reuters noted.
He also opined that, at least so far, suspicions as to the cause of the incident are pointing to a possible navigational error during the landing attempt.
Reuters reported that in an interview with O Globo newspaper, Lima stated that the crash victims were all Brazilian tourists, and the AP reported that many were embarking on a fishing expedition at the time of their deaths.
“Our teams have been working from the outset to provide the necessary support. My sympathy and prayers go out to their families and friends,” Lima said of those killed in the accident.
According to Reuters, the Manaus Aerotaxi airline also offered public comment on the unfortunate event, noting that a probe of the crash was underway, while withholding additional insights on those involved.
“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 company stated.
