What happened
The incident involved a float plane identified as 'Guaracy' operating a scheduled service from Santos to Porto Alegre. The route included intermediate stops at Paranaguá and São Francisco do Sul. At the time of the accident, the aircraft carried four crew members and thirteen passengers.
During the takeoff attempt from the Bay of Santos, the flight crew faced challenging environmental conditions characterized by strong winds and high waves. These factors led to a structural failure where one of the floaters was torn off the airframe. Consequently, the aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Ilha de Las Palmas.
The impact resulted in significant casualties. Six passengers lost their lives in the crash, while eleven other occupants sustained injuries. Among those who perished was the Brazilian Minister of Justice, Mauricio Cardoso.