A pilot escaped from a burning plane by using an emergency parachute
A Cirrus SR22 light aircraft caught fire in mid-air over the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais and crashed in a wooded area. The 29-year-old pilot, who was alone on board, survived thanks to the aircraft's built-in emergency parachute system.
The aircraft was en route from Pampulha Airport in Belo Horizonte to the city of Bom Dexachos when the emergency occurred. According to media reports, a malfunction occurred in flight, followed by a small explosion and fire. The single-engine aircraft crashed in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area and caught fire.
The 29-year-old pilot managed to activate the emergency system: a special red and white parachute opened above the aircraft, allowing the aircraft to make a controlled descent. Footage shows the aircraft descending smoothly at approximately 1,700 feet per minute under the parachute canopy, with smoke billowing from the engine compartment. The word "Bye-bye" can be heard in the video's audio.
The plane crashed in a wooded and grassy area near Serra Azul in southeastern Brazil on Tuesday. After landing, the aircraft, engulfed in flames, was reduced to burning wreckage. Rescuers transported the pilot to João XXIII Hospital in the capital of Minas Gerais state. Doctors diagnosed him with injuries caused by smoke inhalation.
