A small plane with tourists crashed on Saturday afternoon, the 16th, in the Barcelos region, in the interior of Amazonas, and left 14 people dead. Authorities are still investigating the causes of the fall, but preliminary information is that bad weather contributed to the disaster.
See what is known so far:
Who was on the flight?
The plane carried 14 people: pilot, co-pilot and 12 passengers, all tourists going to Barcelos for sport fishing. There were no survivors. The list of victims has not been officially released by the authorities, who will wait for examinations to recognize the bodies, but some families have spoken out.
One of the victims was businessman Gilcrésio Salvador Medeiros, 74 years old, owner of the Serra da Mesa guesthouse, in Niquelândia (GO), approximately 260 kilometers from Brasília. “He left unexpectedly, but he was going to do what he loved most in life: fishing,” was posted on the hotel’s official profile.
What was the flight route?
The plane departed from Manaus towards Barcelos, approximately 400 kilometers from the capital of Amazonas, on the right bank of the Rio Negro.
What was the model of the plane?
It was an Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante model, with capacity to carry up to 18 passengers.
Was the plane regular?
The plane had authorization from the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) to operate as an air taxi and the airworthiness situation was considered normal. In a statement, the agency said it regretted the accident.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) reported that investigators from the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa) were called to assess the crash of the aircraft registered PT-SOG.
Whose aircraft was it?
The aircraft belonged to Manaus Aerotáxi. At a press conference this Saturday, the commander of the Seventh Regional Air Command (VII COMAR), Air Brigadier David Almeida Alcoforado, said that “this is a serious company and already known in the State”.
In a note published on social media, the company said it “deeply” regrets the case. “The safety of passengers and crew is always Manaus Aerotáxi’s priority, so we are certain that the aircraft and crew involved in the accident met all the requirements of the civil aviation authority necessary for airworthiness, and we are committed to clarifying all related details to this accident”, he highlighted.
Why did the plane crash?
The cause of the accident is still to be determined. The aircraft crash occurred at a time of heavy rain in the area, close to the landing area. According to local authorities, two other aircraft gave up landing at the local airport shortly before the accident.
“The weather was very bad. In the attempt to land, this tragedy happened,” the mayor of Barcelos, Edson Mendes (MDB), told Estadão.
According to the Secretary of Public Security of Amazonas, Colonel Vinícius Almeida, there are reports that the aircraft had landed in the middle of the runway and would not have enough space to brake, which has not yet been confirmed.
“Accidents do not have a single cause, and all factors will be analyzed. A report will soon be released”, declared Brigadier Alcoforado.
Is the local airport in good condition to receive flights?
According to the State government, Barcelos airport is in good condition and regularized for small flights. The space will undergo renovation on the runway from the 25th, but will continue with landings and take-offs during the day (these activities are not allowed at night in the unit).
Why is Barcelos a tourist destination?
The municipality is one of the main international destinations for sport and recreational fishing in the country, sought after by Brazilian and foreign visitors, and the current season had just started.
The flight was intended to take tourists to fish in the Upper Rio Negro. The ecotourism destination is sought after for accumulating records of large peacock bass (which can exceed one meter in length) and for ornamental fish in general. Barcelos has around 700 islands and is the 2nd largest municipality in the country. Local tour operators even offer boat-hotel services, with day-long itineraries.
The high season for sport fishing runs from September to March. This month, the state government announced its expectation of attracting more than 30 thousand tourists, from Brazil and abroad, this season. The State Tourism Company (Amazonastur) estimates that Barcelos concentrates almost half of the State’s fishing tourism and that the current season will generate R$500 million, directly and indirectly.
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The post Plane crash in Amazonas with 14 dead: what is known so far appeared first in Jornal de Brasília.
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