Single‑engine plane crashes in São Gabriel metro yard after takeoff from Pampulha
A monomotor aircraft that departed Pampulha Airport crashed in the maintenance yard of São Gabriel metro station, killing the pilot, the sole occupant.
Crash circumstances
The aircraft took off from Pampulha Airport and crashed minutes later in the maintenance yard of São Gabriel metro station. The pilot, the only occupant, was found carbonized. No official cause has been confirmed; it is unclear whether the aircraft suffered an uncontrolled fall or attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft was seen flying low, explosions were heard and a smoke trail followed.
Emergency response
The Corpo de Bombeiros Militar de Minas Gerais dispatched six fire trucks to the scene. Firefighters used a liquid foam generator to fight the fire on the aircraft wings. The fire did not reach the metro depot, no metro cars were hit and metro service remained normal. No other injuries were reported.
Aircraft details
The aircraft was a single‑engine Neiva Emb‑711ST (P28T Corisco Turbo) with registration PT‑VHE, manufactured in 1988 and capable of carrying four people. It had been purchased in September 2020 by a fruit import/export company and its documentation was renewed hours before the crash.
Historical context
The crash is the latest of six small‑aircraft accidents recorded in urban areas of Belo Horizonte over the past decade, including a March 2024 Federal Police aircraft crash and a March 2023 incident that struck houses in Jardim Montanhês.