"An ultralight aircraft used for aerial advertising crashed into the sea off Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, sparking panic among bathers, traders and tourists along the shoreline. Footage shows emergency crews from the fire brigade deploying jet skis, inflatable boats, divers and aerial support to the crash site as authorities rushed to secure the area. “Suddenly the plane, in my opinion, looked like the engine stopped, out of nowhere it was flying straight, then out of nowhere it went down, and you could only hear the explosion,” said Renan, a witness. “There are people who have been here on the beach for a long time and say they have never seen a plane like that, an advertising one, fall in this way. We do not know for sure what could have happened,” added Leonardo, another witness. Authorities later confirmed that the pilot was killed in the crash. His body was recovered from the sea and transferred to the Legal Medical Institute for identification. Brazilian aeronautical authorities said the incident is being investigated by the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Centre (CENIPA), which has begun collecting technical data and flight history. The aircraft was identified as a Cessna 170A, owned by an advertising company. Such light aircraft are commonly used for low-altitude flights and banner towing in tourist areas. “We are gathering information about the pilot and the aircraft, whether anything happened that day, but for the moment, we are only collecting information,” said Marcio Rangel, a member of Brazil’s Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Centre. The Brazilian Air Force has opened an official inquiry to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators are examining whether mechanical failure, human error or other factors led to the aircraft’s descent. Copacabana beach remained under heightened security, with access restricted around the impact zone to allow emergency crews and aviation experts to continue their work."