Manaus Aerotáxi - Embraer 110P1
Santo António, Brazil
7th February, 2009
The Embraer EMB-110P1 operated by Manaus Aerotáxi departed the Brazilian Amazon city of Coari on a domestic flight to the inland Brazilian Amazon basin's largest city, Manaus. 26 passengers and 2 crewmembers were onboard. Moments before reaching Manaus, the captain decided to return to Coari due to weather conditations prevailing en-route. The plane crashed shortly afterward, killing 24 people onboard.
The pilot contacted Manaus ATC about one hour after takeoff. He stated his intentions of returning to Coari due to heavy rainfall en route. Contact with the flight was lost shortly afterward. It is suspected the plane suffered an engine failure and it was forced to make an emergency landing. Authorities suspect the plane tried to make an emergency landing at the Panamacapuru airport but went down instead in the River Manacapuru (between Santo Antonio and the island of Montecristo, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Manaus). Rescue personnel found four passengers alive. 22 people including both crewmembers were killed.
