Brazilian Businessman and Family Die in Plane Crash

A tragic plane crash in southern Brazil claimed the lives of 10 family members on Sunday, including businessman Luiz Claudio Salgueiro Galeazzi, who was piloting the aircraft. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff in the city of Gramado, a popular tourist destination in Rio Grande do Sul state.

The aircraft, a Piper Cheyenne 400 turboprop, departed from Canela but crashed shortly after. It struck the chimney of a building and then a house before crashing into a furniture store. An inn nearby also sustained damage. Authorities confirmed there were no survivors among the passengers.

At least 17 people on the ground were injured, including two seriously, while others were treated for smoke inhalation. The Rio Grande do Sul state security secretariat has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

Gramado is a favored destination for tourists, especially during the festive season. The crash has cast a shadow over the city, which was bustling with holiday visitors.

This tragedy follows another aviation disaster in Brazil just a few months ago. In August, a twin-engine plane crashed in Vinhedo, São Paulo state, killing all 62 people aboard. Additionally, Brazil faced one of its worst road accidents in years just a day before the Gramado crash, when a bus accident in Minas Gerais state claimed 41 lives.