Video showed blazing fragments of the bus and airplane scattered across the Sao Paulo roadway as they detonated upon collision. The local fire service was battling to contain the flames.
Five minutes after taking off, the plane tried to make an emergency landing, which led to the terrifying accident at approximately 7:20 a.m. local time, according to the local fire department.
The aircraft lost communication with the Campo de Marte airport’s control tower and crashed while traveling to Porto Alegre in the state of Rio Grande de Sul.
A video posted by StoryfulNews showed massive flames and a lot of smoke billowing from Marques de Sao Vicente Avenue, a busy street in San Paulo’s Barra Funda neighborhood.
The highway was lined with cars, and the jet just missed them.
“It exploded immediately. Everyone was paralyzed. The plane was ripping up palm trees and signs,” witness Genival Dantas Arraes told TV Globo.
According to G1, two burned remains were discovered inside the King Air F90, a light aircraft that could only hold roughly eight people. The bodies were identified as those of the aircraft’s owner, Mario Carpena, and pilot, Gustavo Medeiros.
“The pilot tried to land on Marques de Sao Vicente, and fortunately many cars swerved, but the plane hit the back of the bus and ended up exploding. The impact was huge, very scary,” witness Adriano Rolim told TV Globo.
Among those injured, a woman on the bus and a motorcycle were struck by flying debris and sustained the most severe injuries. Rescue crews transported all six injured people to nearby hospitals.
“Unfortunately, we begin this day with this tragic air accident in the capital of Sao Paulo,” Sao Paulo Gov. Tarcisio de Freitas posted on X.
“It is worth highlighting the rapid response of the Fire Department, which put out the flames of the accident in a few minutes, preventing an even greater tragedy. My condolences to the family and friends of the victims.”
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