10 family members have been killed after a Piper PA-42-1000 Cheyenne 400 they were traveling on crashed shortly after takeoff in Brazil.
The tragedy unfolded on December 23, 2024, after the aircraft left Canela in Southern Brazil for Jundiaí and appeared to run into difficulties after a few minutes of flight.
The Piper Cheyenne, registered PR-NDN, crashed in Gramado, around six miles from Canela, after reportedly striking the chimney of a building then impacting a mobile phone shop in a residential area.
As well as those killed onboard the aircraft, around 17 people were also injured on the ground with two people believed to be in critical condition.
Consulting firm Galeazzi & Associados confirmed that its CEO, Luiz Cláudio Galeazzi, 61, was killed in the crash with local media reporting that he was piloting the aircraft.
Galeazzi & Associados also said that Galeazzi’s wife, three daughters and other family members, were all killed when the plane crashed.
“In this moment of immense pain, Galeazzi & Associados is deeply grateful for the expressions of solidarity and affection received from friends, colleagues and the community,” the company said in a statement on LinkedIn.
So far there is no indication of what caused the crash although the weather at the time was described as unfavorable.
Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) is leading the investigation into what caused the crash.
In a social media post, Brazilian President Lula wrote: “My condolences to the families of the victims of the plane crash in the center of Gramado, in Rio Grande do Sul. I hope that the injured have a speedy recovery. The Air Force is investigating the causes of the accident, and the federal government is at the disposal of the state government and local authorities to clarify the situation as soon as possible.”