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Some residents of Sao Paulo, Brazil got the shock of their lives on Wednesday when a promotional blimp for a local soccer team crashed into a neighborhood.
The blimp, which had been rented by Sao Paulo FC, was conducting a test flight ahead of the team’s quarterfinal match against Botafogo in the Copa Libertadores tournament.
Globo reports that the blimp started its flight in Sao Carlos, about 143 miles from Sao Paulo, and passed through eight different cities before crashing in a suburb of the nation’s capital.
The blimp crashed into a residential area in the Sao Paulo suburb of Osasco, but luckily, only one person was injured: the airship’s pilot. He was taken to a local hospital, but will reportedly recover from his injuries.
A blimp crashed into a residential area in the Sao Paulo suburb of Osasco, Brazil, on Wednesday, September 25.
The airship was on a test flight ahead of a planned promotion of the local soccer team Sao Paulo Futebol Clube and was supposed to fly during its match on Wednesday… pic.twitter.com/V48Eui78Uy
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) September 26, 2024
“Sao Paulo FC regrets the incident that occurred with the airship contracted by rental of Airship of Brazil Industria e Servicos Aereos SA,” Sao Paulo FC said in a statement. “The company had already rendered this same service to the Club on the occasion of the final of the Copa do Brasil, in 2023, without any complications.
“The device was doing a test this morning in preparation for the night fly overhead, previously authorized by ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency), which was scheduled for the stadium region.
“The Club informs that, fortunately, there were no serious injuries and is providing all necessary support to the crew and others involved.”
Local fire departments were forced to wait for the city to shut off electricity to the area before they could begin dismantling the fallen blimp.
The Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center is investigating the incident, and remarked, “Specific techniques are used in data collection, conducted by qualified and accredited personnel who collect and confirm data, preserve the elements, perform the initial verification of damage caused to the aircraft, or by the aircraft, and gather other information necessary for the investigation.”