Nine Dead as Small Plane Crashes in Commercial Area

A small plane crash in Gramado, a well-known tourist destination in southern Brazil, has left at least nine people dead, authorities confirmed on Sunday, December 22. The incident occurred when the aircraft collided with the chimney of a building, struck the second floor of a nearby house, and ultimately crashed into a furniture store.

The Rio Grande do Sul state security secretariat reported that the crash also caused damage to a local inn. Cleber dos Santos Lima, director of the Interior Police Department, stated that all nine victims were aboard the plane, with no survivors among the passengers or crew. Initial reports suggested the Piper Cheyenne 400 turboprop was carrying 10 people, but this has not been fully confirmed.

Following the crash, at least 15 individuals were hospitalized, primarily for smoke inhalation resulting from the fire triggered by the incident.

The ill-fated flight had departed from Canela, another nearby tourist hotspot in Rio Grande do Sul. Gramado, particularly bustling during the Christmas season, draws significant numbers of visitors each year.