A devastating plane crash in Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has claimed the lives of ten passengers, while 17 others sustained serious injuries on the ground. The small private plane, owned and piloted by businessman Luiz Claudio Salgueiro Galeazzi, reportedly carried his relatives when it crashed on Sunday morning.

The accident occurred at 9:15 a.m., just minutes after the plane took off from a nearby airport. According to civil defense officials, the aircraft struck the chimney and the second floor of a building before plummeting into a furniture store below.

At a press conference, Governor Eduardo Leite confirmed the casualty figures and noted the challenging weather conditions at the time of the crash. “Flight conditions on the day were poor, with the area experiencing rain and fog,” he said. However, authorities have yet to determine if the adverse weather directly caused the crash.

Leite also provided an update on the injured, stating that most are suffering from smoke inhalation, while two women are being treated for burns. Offering his sympathies, he said, “We wish to express our solidarity with the families of the passengers on this plane, who unfortunately did not survive a serious accident.”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also shared his condolences on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “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 provide clarification as soon as possible.”

As authorities investigate the crash, the tragedy has left the local community in mourning and raised concerns about aviation safety amid challenging weather conditions.