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Suspect Claimed to Be Passionate About Aviation, Said He Had an Expired Pilot License and Reported a Similar Incident in the United States; Private Helicopter Crashed Before Taking Off and Mobilized Firefighters and Aviation Investigators
In the early hours of this Sunday (8), an unusual and serious incident mobilized security forces in Southern Minas Gerais. A 52-year-old man broke into Caxambu airport with the aim of “testing” a private helicopter, tried to take off without any authorization, and ended up causing the aircraft to crash on the runway. Despite the scare, no one was injured, and the suspect was located and arrested hours later in another city in the region.
The information was released by the Military Police, which detailed the entire occurrence after the man’s arrest in the afternoon of the same day, around 3 PM, in the municipality of São Lourenço. Since then, the case has also been treated as an aviation incident, with the oversight of specialized agencies.
Airport Invasion, Attempted Takeoff, and Helicopter Crash
According to the Military Police, the suspect managed to access the airport after cutting the protective fence during the night. He then headed to a private helicopter that was outside the hangar and attempted to take off without any permission, flight plan, or technical supervision.
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However, the attempt failed. The aircraft crashed before it could gain altitude, causing structural damage. Shortly after the impact, the man fled the scene, leaving the damaged helicopter at Caxambu airport.
The Military Fire Brigade was immediately called to respond to the incident. On-site, the teams identified a small fuel spill, but there was no report of fire or explosion. Nevertheless, the entire area underwent a safety evaluation, and the fuel was removed as a precaution to eliminate additional risks.
Suspect’s Arrest and Report of a Similar Incident Abroad
After gathering information and conducting investigations, the police managed to identify the perpetrator of the invasion and located him at his residence in São Lourenço. During the approach, the man claimed to be passionate about aircraft and stated that he entered the airport only to “test” the helicopter.
Moreover, he told the police that he has a pilot license, but that the document was expired. This information will be verified by the competent authorities. The account drew even more attention when the suspect claimed that, years ago, he had done something similar in California, USA.
According to his version, he had successfully taken off, flown for a few minutes, landed on a beach, and then fled. The Military Police informed that this statement will be investigated, including potential international cooperation, if necessary.
Technical Investigation and CENIPA’s Role in the Case
According to the Military Police, the suspect was arrested in the act and initially taken for medical treatment due to a small injury on one of the fingers of his right hand. After treatment, he was taken to the police station for legal proceedings.
During the operation, a laptop, a cell phone, and the clothing worn at the time of the invasion were seized. All collected materials, as well as images of the airport and the aircraft, were made available to the authorities to assist in the investigations.
The Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) was also called and is following the case. The agency is responsible for determining the technical circumstances of the incident, including the condition of the aircraft, the attempted takeoff, and the unauthorized access to the airport. The investigation is ongoing and should indicate responsibilities and any potential security flaws at the site.
With information from: G1
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