A startling incident occurred in a residential neighborhood in Brazil when a promotional blimp for São Paulo FC unexpectedly crashed. On Wednesday, videos shared on social media captured the blimp, adorned with “Vamos, São Paulo!” descending rapidly before colliding with a building and deflating upon impact.
Witnesses rushed to the crash site to check on the pilot and assess the damage. Other footage showed the blimp lying on the street after crashing into a housing complex.
In response, São Paulo FC issued a statement expressing regret over the incident and apologizing for any inconvenience caused. They noted that the blimp was contracted from Airship of Brazil Indústria e Serviços Aéreos SA, which had successfully provided similar services for the club in the past. The blimp was reportedly conducting a test flight ahead of a scheduled night flyover of the stadium, which had been authorized by Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
The crash occurred in Osasco, a suburb of São Paulo. The blimp had flown over eight cities, having originated from São Carlos, approximately 143 miles away. Fortunately, only the pilot sustained injuries and is expected to recover after being taken to a local hospital. As a precaution, the city temporarily cut off electricity in the area to allow firefighters to safely dismantle the wreckage.
The Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.