A plane towing a advertising banner crashed on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, causing the death of the pilot. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the causes of the accident.

On Saturday, a light aircraft displaying an advertising banner crashed into the sea, near Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, in front of thousands of tourists. The pilot, Luiz Ricardo Leite de Amorim, who was on his first day of work, did not survive the accident. His body was recovered after a rescue operation lasting over two hours. The aircraft had recently taken off from Jacarepaguá airport and, according to expert Gerardo Portela, suffered a malfunction, most likely in the engine. He mentioned that the pilot should have released the banner to reduce drag. The aircraft was operated by Visual Propaganda Aérea, which did not have authorization for the advertising campaign, and the authorities announced that the company will be fined. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, and the wreckage has been removed by a specialized firm.