E-Paper
7 die as plane crashes into houses in Brazil
A small plane crashed into a heavily populated neighborhood in Sao Paulo on Sunday, killing at least 7 people, authorities said.
A small plane crashed into a heavily populated neighborhood in Sao Paulo on Sunday, killing at least 7 people, authorities said.
The plane, a Learjet belonging to the air taxi company Really, crashed into at least three houses shortly after taking off from a small airport in Sao Paulo, said Lucia Ferreira, a spokeswoman with airport authority Infraero.
Three people injured in the crash including a child were transported to hospitals for treatment, a firefighter identified as Colonel Paiol told Record TV.
It was not clear how many of the victims were on the ground.
The plane could transport as many as eight people, Record TV said, adding that the Really company was specialized in the transportation of patients.
The plane was reportedly going from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro.
Witnesses said the plane dove nose first into the houses as it apparently tried to return the nearby Campo de Marte airport, from which it had taken off a few minutes earlier.
There was a small explosion on impact but firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire. One house was destroyed and at least two others were damaged by the crash.
Nearly 60 firefighters scoured through the wreckage for possible victims.
