At least two people were killed when a small twin-engine Beech F90 King Air crashed into a busy street in São Paulo, Brazil, on the morning of Friday, February 7, 2025. En route to Porto Alegre, the aircraft collided with a bus along Marquês de São Vicente Avenue in the Barra Funda neighborhood at approximately 7:20 a.m. local time.
Authorities identified the deceased as pilot Gustavo Medeiros and aircraft owner Márcio Carpena. They were the only individuals on board. According to reports, both victims were burned to death upon impact. Six others sustained injuries from debris, including a motorcyclist and a woman inside the bus. All injured individuals were transported to local hospitals, including Santa Casa de Misericordia and Upa Santana Hospital.
The control tower lost contact with the plane minutes after its departure from Campo de Marte, a private airport located less than three miles from the crash site. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and the Brazilian Air Force has launched an investigation.
Eyewitnesses recounted the chaotic moments before the crash, describing how the plane struck a tree, clipped a sign, and began leaking fuel before slamming into a bus and erupting into flames. Engineer João Lucas da Silva Amaral recalled that after hitting the tree and sign, the aircraft “started dumping kerosene” before it exploded upon impact.
Another witness, personal trainer Adriano Rolim, noted the pilot appeared to be attempting a landing on Marquês de São Vicente. In a desperate effort to avoid disaster, nearby cars swerved out of the way, but the plane still collided with the back of a bus before the fiery explosion. The force of the crash was immense, leaving onlookers in shock at the terrifying scene.
Emergency response teams, including firefighters, military police, civil police, and scientific-technical police, arrived promptly. A total of 14 fire department vehicles and 38 firefighters were dispatched to control the flames and assist victims.
Dramatic footage from the scene captured the aircraft skidding along the highway, followed by a large explosion and thick plumes of black smoke. A video from CCTV cameras showed the moment of impact, with the plane crashing just yards past an intersection where cars were waiting at a traffic light.
São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas expressed condolences, confirmed the identities of the deceased, and assured that authorities were actively investigating the accident. São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes stated, “We are providing all the support structures to help the victims.”
The crash disrupted traffic in one of São Paulo’s busiest districts, which houses key office buildings and public transportation hubs.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos as people frantically escaped the burning wreckage. Civil Guard member Alexandre Lima Marques recalled seeing “a lot of smoke” as he arrived, with flames engulfing the plane and passengers fleeing the bus in terror. Many were visibly shaken, overwhelmed by fear and shock as they struggled to process the disaster unfolding before them.
Brazil has seen multiple minor aircraft crashes in recent years. A particularly devastating accident in August 2024, in Vinhedo, near São Paulo, claimed 61 lives when a passenger plane entered a flat spin and crashed into a residential area.
Investigators will examine potential causes, including mechanical failure and pilot error, to determine what led to Friday’s fatal incident. The Brazilian Air Force has assured the public that the investigation will be conducted as swiftly as possible.