The civil protection agency said the plane hit the chimney of a house, then the second floor of a building before crashing into a mobile phone store in a residential area of Gramado.
All ten passengers were killed and more than a dozen people on the ground were injured after a small plane crashed in southern Brazil.
The civil protection agency said the plane hit the chimney of the house, then the second floor of a building before crashing into a mobile phone store in a mostly residential area of the city of Gramado.
More than a dozen people who were on the ground were taken to hospital with injuries, including smoke inhalation, and two of them are believed to be in critical condition.
The causes of the accident were not immediately specified.
Local media reported that the plane was piloted by Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, a Brazilian businessman who was traveling with his family to the state of São Paulo.
In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Mr. 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 members of his family and an employee.
“In this moment of intense pain, we are deeply grateful for the expressions of solidarity and love we have received from our friends, colleagues and community“, we can read in the press release.
“We also express our solidarity with those affected by this accident in the region.”
Security cameras captured the small Piper plane departing from Canela airport in Rio Grande do Sul state minutes before it crashed in Gramado, about 10 km from the airport .
Gramado is located in the Serra Gaúcha mountains and is popular with Brazilian tourists who enjoy its cool climate, hiking spots and traditional architecture.
The city was settled by large numbers of German and Italian immigrants in the 19th century. It is a popular destination for the Christmas holidays.
