Small jet crashes into Brazilian restaurant, killing four

A six‑seat Piper JetProp DLX jet crashed into a restaurant in Criciúma, southeastern Brazil, shortly after takeoff on April 3, killing all four people on board.

The aircraft had departed from Criciúma Diomício Freitas Airport in Capão da Canoa at around 10:40 a.m. local time when it clipped a pole at the end of the runway and lost control, according to local authorities, Daily Mail reports.

Closed‑circuit television footage showed the jet striking the restaurant on Avenida Valdomiro Cândido dos Reis in a residential area with its nose pointing upwards before exploding into flames. The restaurant was not open at the time of the crash.

Pilot Nélio Pessanham and his partner Renan Saes died in the collision, along with two passengers identified as Deborah Belanda Ortolani and Luis Antonio Ortolani, both executives in the event management sector. The fire department said all four died at the scene and there were no other casualties.

In the footage, a person is seen near the impact site moments before the crash but ran from the scene as the jet struck the building.

Responding to the incident, a local spokesman said: “The accident happened around 10:40 AM on Avenida Valdomiro Candido dos Reis, a residential area of the city. Traffic was blocked in the surrounding area. The fire was brought under control. In addition to the Fire Department and Military Police, teams from the city hall and CEEE electricity company provided support at the scene.”

By Sabina Mammadli