Photo: Crashed Plane in Amazon Rainforest
All 14 people on board were killed when a plane crashed on Saturday in the Brazilian Amazon trying to land during a heavy rainstorm at the tourist destination Barcelos, according to authorities.
The pilot of the small plane, in bad weather and at limited visibility, seemed to mistakenly start his landing mid-way down the runway as he approached the town in heavy rain, Amazonas state security secretary Vinicius Almeida said.
According to AFP reports he said “The plane ran out of landing strip and crashed with death of 12 passengers and two crew”.
“All passengers were brazilian male, going to the region of sport fish , first lines of investigation said."
"Our teams have been on the ground responding since the moment of impact to give them that necessary support," said Governor Wilson Lima in a message posted on X.
"Stand with and pray for the victims’ families."
News footage had the tiny white plane’s nose buried in the thick foliage beside a dirt road.
It was an EMB-110, an Embraer.
The aircraft was en route from the state capital, Manaus (1h30min on flight), to Barcelos.
Officials said two planes that were near Barcelos at the same time had to return to Manaus due to the weather.
The accident will be probed by Brazil’s air force and police, officials said.
Initial reports had suggested American citizens were on the plane,
although Amazonas authorities said that by preliminary investigation of
all victims they’re Brazilian.
Authorities said the bodies of the victims would be transported to the state capital on Sunday for identification.
They said that to travel earlier was impossible as night flights are not allowed in the area.
"An air force aircraft will leave Manaus tomorrow around 5: 00 am” with police and emergency workers, Almeida said.
"The hope is that we can take the bodies to Manaus tomorrow,
immediately go with them to forensics and then release them to families
of the victims."
Barcelos lies at the
mouth of an important Amazonian tributary, the Rio Negro, and is
surrounded by numerous other parks and reserves.
It is prime time to fish in the area for tropical river species, such as “tucunare,” also known as peacock bass.
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