Brazil plane crash witness' harrowing four-word warning as pilot lands on busy motorway

A dramatic emergency landing on a busy left onlookers in shock when a pilot was forced to make a miraculous escape, narrowly avoiding traffic and power lines. The incident occurred when the single-engine Pelican 500 BR suffered engine failure shortly after taking off from a small aerodrome in Gauramirim, southern , forcing the pilot to land on the BR-1010 highway. A female passenger in a car behind the plane can be heard in the video shouting, "It’s going to crash."

Captured by onlookers, the plane plummeted toward the highway, with moving cars and lorries below. Pilot Mateus Renan Calado, 29, made a flawless emergency landing without anyone being injured. Both Calado and his passenger, 71-year-old businessman Valdemiro Jose Minella, were unharmed in the incident.

READ MORE:

The dramatic event unfolded around midday on Saturday, with the engine failing shortly after take-off. With the BR-1010 highway below, Calado skilfully guided the plane toward the road, hoping for a safe landing.

Witnesses reported that at one point, it seemed the plane would land on a grass verge beside the road, but the situation quickly grew more perilous. The appeared to be heading straight for a tanker, forcing the pilot to make an incredibly precise manoeuvre.

Miraculously, Calado steered the plane just enough to avoid the truck and dodge power lines. A female passenger in a car behind could be overheard shouting, "It’s going to come down on the top of the lorry, it’s going to crash!" However, the plane made a safe stop just in front of the tanker, avoiding disaster by mere inches.

responders arrived quickly, and both the pilot and passenger were confirmed unharmed. The plane was moved off the road, and its wings were removed for towing. The highway reopened later in the afternoon, with traffic slowly resuming to normal.

Minella, the plane’s owner, confirmed to the local press that the aircraft had been inspected earlier in the year and had flown only seven hours since the check. Despite the engine failure, the plane had been in good condition. The has since launched an investigation into the cause of the malfunction. They have promised to provide further updates once their analysis is complete.

On social media, many praised Calado’s skill. “That was some fancy flying,” one user commented, while another added, “Buy that guy a beer. That’s some incredible piloting there.” The response to the incident was overwhelmingly positive, with many also acknowledging the quick thinking of the truck driver who stayed with the plane to ensure safety and prevent other vehicles from coming too close.

Despite the initial fear, what could have been a tragic crash turned into an extraordinary display of piloting expertise and bravery.