A small plane carrying 10 people, including the pilot and owner, crashed into shops in the center of Gramado, a tourist city in southern Brazil, killing everyone on board. The plane, a twin-engine Piper PA-42-1000, was manufactured in 1990 and took off from nearby Canela airport just after 9 am local time under unfavorable weather conditions. The cause of the crash, which also injured 17 people on the ground, is being investigated by the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center.
The plane struck the chimney of a building, the second floor of a house, and then a furniture store, with debris also reaching a nearby inn. Gramado is the most popular tourist destination in Rio Grande do Sul, which was severely impacted earlier this year by unprecedented floods that caused widespread damage and disruption.
The accident occurred just days before Christmas, a particularly busy period for the city, which is traditionally decorated with festive decorations and hosts special events. Governor Eduardo Leite reported that 12 people are still receiving hospital care, including two in critical condition.
