A doctor and his wife died in a small plane crash in Palmas, Brazil, shortly after takeoff on July 19, 2026. Dr. Ederson da Silva, 68, and his wife, Roseli Amarilda Pechulo Silva, 62, were returning from the funeral of Dr. Silva's father when the incident occurred.
Witnesses told investigators that the aircraft appeared to take off normally before unexpectedly losing altitude and plunging to the ground. People nearby reported hearing a loud cracking noise as the plane descended.
Emergency crews responded to the crash site. Roseli Silva was pronounced dead at the scene. Dr. Silva was pulled from the wreckage alive but died at the scene despite paramedics' efforts to treat him.
The pilot, identified as Hamilton Lopes da Conceição, survived the crash with serious injuries and was transported to Palmas General Hospital, where his condition was reported as unstable.
Dr. Silva and his wife owned São Lucas Hospital and resided in the city of Redenção. Images from the scene showed the wreckage scattered across farmland. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.