Shocking footage has captured the moment a small plane crashed into a restaurant in southern Brazil, killing all four people on board. The incident occurred just after 10.30am local time on Good Friday in Capao da Canoa, Rio Grande do Sul.
The victims were identified as Luis Ortolani and his wife Deborah, along with pilot Nelio Pessanha and aviation company partner Renan Saes. The restaurant was closed at the time due to renovation work, which likely prevented a higher death toll.
Witnesses reported that the Piper Malibu aircraft struck a pole near the end of the runway shortly after take-off from Capao da Canoa Airport. Lorry driver Silvio Silva de Jesus said the plane seemed to lose power and made a strange engine noise before crashing nose-first into the building.
Emergency services evacuated nearby homes and cut off the power supply due to damaged overhead cables. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, which sent a plume of black smoke into the air. Governor Eduardo Leite confirmed the fatalities and praised the swift response of security forces.
Restaurant owner Douglas Roos expressed relief that the eatery was closed, noting that his family and several employees would have been inside otherwise. Civil Defence spokesman Sabrina Rimas confirmed that no one on the ground was injured.
