The balloon pilot that fell in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, as well as the owner of the company responsible for the flight, can be arrested if intentional or guilty homicide is proven, the Civil Police said. The accident occurred on Saturday morning, 21, and caused the death of eight people.
The information was released by the general delegate, Ulisses Gabriel, during a press conference on Saturday afternoon. According to Gabriel, the flight was authorized by the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) to be held, just as the pilot was up to date.
“The Santa Catarina Civil Police will comply with the investigation of the facts and will verify if criminal practices emerge and, consequently, indictments. We are investigating the facts and we will verify if there is materiality and authorship of the commission of some crime,” said Gabriel.
The falling balloon was able to carry up to 27 people, or 2,875 kg. So far, the pilot and five others in the balloon have been heard by the police.
The teams are also analyzing the images of all angles and should hear more witnesses who witnessed the scene.
“We will also make surveys with the Scientific Police on the conditions of the balloon, which remained from the balloon, and the time conditions, if they were suitable for a flight to occur this morning. We are having instabilities [climáticas] In the south of Santa Catarina and in the north of Rio Grande do Sul, ”added the general delegate.
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The Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa) is also acting on investigations with Anac.
The victims
The names of the victims have not yet been officially disclosed by the police, but of the 21 passengers, 18 were from Santa Catarina, two from Rio Grande do Sul and one from Sao Paulo. Some of them, however, have already been identified through publications from public institutions and organizations on social networks.
According to the scientific police, of the eight victims, four were found charred inside the basket and the other four, had exposed injuries and burns from the fall.
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Of the 13 survivors, five people sought the Nossa Senhora de Fátima Hospital in Praia Grande, but only two were hospitalized, both with stable health, but in a state of shock.
