Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Saturday, December 14, 2024 76° Today's Paper


Top News

Small plane crash-lands on packed Portuguese beach, kills 2

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People walk past a small plane resting by the sea after an emergency landing at Sao Joao beach in Costa da Caparica, outside Lisbon, Wednesday. The plane made the landing on a packed beach killing a man and a child who were sunbathing.

LISBON, Portugal >> A light plane made an emergency landing on a packed beach near Lisbon on Wednesday afternoon, killing a 56-year-old man and an 8-year-old girl who were sunbathing, authorities said.

Hundreds of sunbathers were on the popular beach at Caparica, 20 miles south of Lisbon, and witnesses said some sunbathers ran into the sea to avoid the plane.

The National Maritime Authority said the man and girl died on the beach. Officials said they were not aware of any injured.

The small aircraft, reportedly a Cessna, carrying two people appeared to be in difficulty and wobbled as it skimmed low over the sunbathers, scattering them and spreading panic on the beach, witnesses said.

The plane appeared to have a partly broken left wing, which hung lower than the right wing, Portuguese television pictures showed. Officials said the accident occurred at 4:50 p.m.

The dead girl was with her parents, who were unhurt, witnesses told local television channels. The plane passed over the dead man’s legs as he sunbathed on a towel, they said. No others were reportedly hurt.

The bodies lay covered on the sand as police cordoned off the area.

The two occupants of the plane were unhurt and were being questioned by police.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.