Official press releases from involved authorities

Small Plane Crash in Gramado, Brazil Kills 10 Members of Same Family Including Pilot Luiz Claudio Galeazzi

Dec 23, 2024, 11:00 AM

A small plane crash in Gramado, Brazil, claimed the lives of 10 members of the same family, including businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, who owned and piloted the Piper PA-42-1000 Cheyenne 400 aircraft. The incident occurred on Sunday morning when the twin-engine turbo-prop, weighing 5.4 tons, crashed into a commercial area after striking a building's chimney and the second floor of a residence along Avenida das Hortênsias. The crash resulted in an explosion and fire, causing extensive damage to a furniture store, a hotel, and a house. Two individuals on the ground sustained severe injuries from the impact and subsequent fire. The aircraft had taken off from Canela Airport, heading towards Jundiaí, São Paulo, when it encountered deteriorating weather conditions, including rain and fog, which may have contributed to the accident. The Civil Defense Unit and various authorities, including the Brazilian Federal Police and the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA), are investigating the causes of the crash. The bodies of the victims were transported to Porto Alegre for identification, a process that involves DNA testing and dental records due to the extent of the damage.