World
Seven dead in Brazil plane crash
Sao Paulo: At least seven people were killed when a twin engine executive plane crashed in a rural area of the Brazilian municipality of Piracicaba, in southeastern Sao Paulo state, the local fire department reported.
Local authorities reported that the victims include the business tycoon Celso Silveira Mello Filho, his wife Maria Luiza Meneghel, his three children, the pilot Celso Carloni and co-pilot Giovani Gulo.
Reportedly, the plane had departed from the regional airport of Piracicaba, located 164 km from the city of Sao Paulo.
The crash occurred in a wooded area next to the Sao Paulo State Faculty of Technology, causing a fire.
Firefighters were at the site putting out the forest fire, according to the report.
Officials from the Brazilian Air Force were also sent to the site to conduct air traffic control investigations.
As per Piracicaba Municipal Government, the accident happened 15 seconds after the plane left the Pedro Morganti Municipal Airport.
However, the cause of the accident is not ascertained yet and is being investigated by authorities.
The victim, Celso Silveira Mello Filho was a shareholder of Cosan, one of Brazil's largest biofuel producers.