A pilot and a tourist have died in a gyrocopter crash while livestreaming.
Flavius Neves, 66, an experienced pilot and owner of the rotorcraft, and passenger Geraldo Francisco da Silva, 42, were killed.
They were flying along the coastline when the gyrocopter encountered a technical problem and lost altitude.
Chaotic images showed them preparing to hit the ground before the livestream suddenly went silent.
The crash took place on Areias Alvas Beach in Rio Grande do Norte, north east of Brasilia, Brazil, on Monday afternoon (21 Apr).
The small chopper crashed into the sand in front of stunned tourists at around 4.30pm, as reported by Need To Know.
The emergency services found the victims’ bodies trapped in the wreckage.
Members of the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Centre arrived on the scene to start a probe into the cause of the crash.
A possible mechanical failure, unusual weather conditions, or human error are being looked into.
Neves, known for his flights along the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, was a much-loved figure in the region.
He had posted other videos of the gyrocopter in flight earlier the same day for his 40,000 Instagram followers.
Neves referred to himself on social media as a “travelling nomad showing the beauty of our country, flying a gyrocopter, motor glider, and helicopter”.
He was also a managing partner of the Costa Esmeralda Aeronautical Condominium in Porto Belo.
Last year, he lost a friend, businessman Mikael Minatti, who crashed his ultralight aircraft in Itapema.
Neves called his rotorcraft the “safest ride in the world”.
The gyrocopter was used for tourist activities.
The propellers rotating above the pilot’s head are powered by air. In addition, the craft had a small engine.
The tragic deaths highlighted the need for stricter regulations of light aircrafts used in tourism activities.
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