Horrifying moment helicopter hits power line and crashes – but Brazilian congressman, deputy mayor, staffer and pilot all survive
- Minas Gerais federal deputy Hercílio Diniz, Governador Valadares deputy mayor David Barraso, a press secretary and the pilot survived the helicopter crash
- Diniz, who is running for reelection, was on his way to a campaign event when the aircraft hit a power line and crashed near a soccer field Tuesday
- Diniz was hospitalized as a precaution; Barraso was placed in intensive care due to rib fractures and a collapsed lung
- The pilot Fabiano Rufino also suffered a collapsed lung and is in stable condition
- Press secretary Luciano Viana was treated for minor injuries and was expected to be discharged soon
A congressman, a deputy mayor and two other people, including the pilot, miraculously survived after the helicopter they were flying knocked down a power line and crashed in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais on Wednesday.
The aircraft was preparing for landing at a soccer field in the municipality of Engenheiro Caldas when it accidentally made contact with cable line, a video recorded by a bystander shows.
The impact of the collision unleashed an electrical spark before the helicopter nosedived on a marsh area.
The broken power line generated a fire that spread across the land, the fire department said.
Still image from a cellphone video shows a helicopter nosediving into the marsh area near a soccer field in the southeastern Brazilian city of Engenheiro Caidas on Wednesday. All four people aboard, including Brazilian congressman Hercílio Diniz, survived with injuries
Hercílio Diniz, who is running for reelection as the federal deputy in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, is tended before boarding an ambulance after he survived a helicopter crash Wednesday
The helicopter was just moments from landing on a soccer field in the southeastern Brazilian municipality of Engenheiro Caldas when it clipped a power line and crashed on a marsh area
Minas Gerais federal deputy Hercílio Diniz, who is running for reelection, was fortunately able to walk out of the wreckage with blood stains on his face and clothing.
Governador Valadares deputy mayor David Barraso, campaign press secretary Luciano Viana and the pilot Fabiano Rufino were all injured.
Separate footage recorded by another bystander showed one of the three injured men being carried away in a stretcher.
David Barroso, the deputy mayor of the Brazilian city of Governador Valadares, remained in intensive care due to multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung
The helicopter was about to land before it struck an electricity power line near a soccer field
All four survivors were rushed to Municipal Hospital in Governador Valadares for treatment.
Barraso was in intensive care with fractures to his ribs and also suffered a collapsed lung, according to a statement released by Diniz’s office.
Rufino was also treated for a collapsed lung, but was in stable condition.
Diniz’s tests were positive, but he remained at the hospital as a precaution.
Viana suffered minor injuries and was expected to be discharged.
One of the four helicopter crash survivors is carried away on a stretcher
Brazilian congressman Hercílio Diniz was heading to a campaign event when the helicopter he was flying in crashed near a soccer field in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. Diniz along with a deputy mayor, press secretary and the pilot all survived
Diniz’s Instagram account showed that prior to the accident he had met for a breakfast with local business leaders Wednesday morning in Governador Valadares.
He was then expected to make two campaign appearances, one in Engenheiro Caldas and another in Açucena, before returning to Governador Valadares.
According to the National Civil Aviation Agency, the helicopter was part of a fleet of aircrafts owned by a Rotorfly Táxi Aéreo, a local air taxi company.
The company said the helicopter’s required maintenance was up-to-date, Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported.
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