2019 São Paulo helicopter crash

On 11 February 2019, a Bell 206B helicopter crashed while trying to land on the Rodoanel Mário Covas highway, following an unspecified malfunction. Among the victims was journalist Ricardo Boechat. The pilot, Ronaldo Quatrucci, was also killed and one person on the ground was injured.[1] The aircraft crashed around 12:15 pm (UTC−02:00) and the journalist and pilot were pronounced dead shortly after.[2] The helicopter was owned by RQ Serviços Aéreo Especializados Ltda.[3]

2019 São Paulo Bell 206B accident
PT-HPG, the Bell 206B involved in the accident
Accident
Date11 February 2019 (2019-02-11)
SummaryUnder investigation
SiteSão Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
23.451989°S 46.786984°W / -23.451989; -46.786984
Total fatalities2
Total injuries1
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBell 206B
OperatorRQ Serviços Aéreos Especializados Ltda.
RegistrationPT-HPG
Flight originCampinas, São Paulo, Brazil
DestinationSão Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Occupants2
Passengers1
Crew1
Fatalities2
Survivors0
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities0
Ground injuries1

Aircraft

The aircraft was a Bell 206B, manufactured in 1975, registered PT-HPG.[1][4] The pilot, Ronaldo Quatrucci, was one of the owners of the aerial shuttle company operating the aircraft.[3]

Accident

Journalist and news anchor Ricardo Boechat, from Rede Bandeirantes, was on his way to the head office of the broadcaster in São Paulo after speaking at an event for pharmaceutical company Libbs in Campinas, which is located about 100 km from the head offices.[3] The helicopter crashed near kilometer 8 of the Rodoanel, on the Anhanguera highway, after attempting to make an emergency landing on one of the highway locks, following low-altitude flight and an unspecified malfunction. It collided with a semi truck unable to brake on time, burst into flames, and eventually exploded.[1][3]

Investigation

Preliminary information published by the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (Anac) showed that the helicopter had a valid flight certificate until May 2023.[3] However, RQ Serviços Aéreos Especializados Ltda was not authorized to provide air taxi services, only specialized air services such as aerial photography, airborne and aerial transport.[5] Anac has announced that it has opened an investigation on the case.[5] In 2011, RQ had paid a fine of 8,000 BRL (2507.84 USD) for offering panoramic flights without air taxi certification.[6]

RQ Serviços Aéreos Especializados Ltda., owner of the helicopter, had been contracted by Zum Brazil, an event company that, in turn, rendered services to the pharmaceutical company Libbs, which promoted its annual sales agreement.[5]

CENIPA (Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center) issued their investigation report in October 2020.[7] The report identified an airworthy compressor module was refitted to the engine.[8]

Responses
  • The Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação issued a note of regret after confirming the death of Boechat. Like all vehicles in the group, the news were dealt with in extreme commotion. The presenter of Brasil Urgente, José Luiz Datena left the journal without saying goodbye completely shaken. In the Jornal da Band, the closure counted on the empty bench and a session of applause and shouts of staff of the editors of the stations of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, besides a minute of silence after the display of the tributes. On BandNews FM radio, the broadcasts were suspended for a few minutes due to the emotion of the employees running only the looped vignette.[9][10][11][12]
  • A group of taxi drivers paid tribute to Boechat with a motorcade and "buzinaço" in the streets of São Paulo. Then, they stopped in front of the headquarters of the Grupo Bandeirantes, applauding the journalist and the group's employees.[13]
  • President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro published a note in his social networks for both Ricardo Boechat and Ronaldo Quatrucci, besides stating being admiror of the journalist, even he made critics about his government. Besides Bolsonaro, also regretted the death of the journalist and the pilot. Vice President of Brazil, Hamilton Mourão, the Governor of São Paulo, João Doria, and the Governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema and the Planalto Palace's official account also published official notes.[14][15][16]
  • President of the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia publisher an official note in Twitter, as did President of the Senate Davi Alcolumbre.[14]
  • The Supreme Federal Court, through its president, Minister Dias Toffoli, expressed regret for the death of the journalist.[14]
  • The Superior Court of Justice also published a note through its president, Minister João Otávio de Noronha.[14]
  • The National Confederation of Industry regretted Boechat's death through a note signed by President Robson Braga de Andrade.[14]
  • The Ministry of Justice and Public Security expressed solidarity to the journalist and Grupo Bandeirantes.[14]
  • The Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters sent a note signed by Paulo Tonet Camargo, president of the association.[14]
  • Prosecutor General of the Republic Raquel Dodge regretted the death of the journalist also through an official note.[14]
  • TV host José Luiz Datena, Boechat's widow Veruska Seibel, Supreme Court Minister Luiz Fux, Electoral Court President Rosa Weber, TV hosts Luciano Huck and Serginho Groisman, Globo presenter Fátima Bernardes, writer Paulo Coelho, commedian Marcelo Adnet, journalists Vera Magalhães, Miriam Leitão, Aline Midlej, Ricardo Noblat, Rodolfo Schneider, Milton Neves and José Simão, radio broadcaster Milton Jung, priests Fábio de Melo and Marcelo Rossi, singer Daniela Mercury, commentator Walter Casagrande and many other personalities as singers, journalists, politicians, sportists, Brazilian soccer, volleyball and other modalities teams, actors and presenters of many broadcasters published tributes in the social networks.[17]
  • International press like BBC pointed out the accident in the main page and remembered Boechat as one of the most noble and respected journalists of the country, and that his death is a sad moment for the Brazilian journalism. Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã brought Boechat as "star of the brazilian journalism".[18][19] Spanish newspaper El País highlighted Ricardo Boechat's death.[20]
  • In the social networks, fans of Silas Malafaia were satisfied with the death of Ricardo Boechat, using their relligion, and Malafaia disapproves the fans' attitude saying that, he could even disagree with the journalist's opinions, but doesn't deny that he had great leadership.[21]

See also

References
  1. "Aeronáutica investiga queda de helicóptero que matou Boechat" (in Portuguese). G1. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. "Jornalista Ricardo Boechat morre em acidente de helicóptero em São Paulo" (in Portuguese). Gazeta Online. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  3. "Ricardo Boechat: o que se sabe sobre acidente de helicóptero que matou jornalista em SP" (in Portuguese). BBC. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  4. Martins, Leonardo; Bezerra, Mirthyani (11 February 2019). "Ricardo Boechat morre em acidente de helicóptero em São Paulo" (in Portuguese). Uol. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  5. Estarque, Marina (11 February 2019). "Empresa envolvida em acidente com Boechat não podia fazer táxi aéreo" (in Portuguese). Folha de S. Paulo. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  6. "Empresa dona de helicóptero que transportava Boechat não podia fazer táxi aéreo e já havia sido multada por atividade irregular, diz Anac" (in Portuguese). G1. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  7. http://sistema.cenipa.aer.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/en/PTHPG_11FEV2019_ING..pdf
  8. "B206B Hit by Truck in Forced Landing after 16 Months of Operation with Unairworthy Engine – Aerossurance". Aerossurance. 8 November 2020.
  9. "'Perdemos um amigo', diz Grupo Bandeirantes sobre morte de Boechat" (in Portuguese). TV Terra Viva. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  10. "Datena Chora ao falar de Boechat e não consegue encerrar programa" (in Portuguese). Catraca Livre. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  11. Augusto, Fabio (11 February 2019). "Jornal da Band termina com emocionante homenagem a Ricardo Boechat" (in Portuguese). Observatório da Televisão. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  12. Lima, Rafaela (11 February 2019). "Após morte de Ricardo Boechat, BandNews FM pede desculpas e sai do ar" (in Portuguese). Metrópoles. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  13. "Taxistas prestam homenagem ao jornalista Ricardo Boechat em São Paulo" (in Portuguese). Estados de Minas. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  14. "Veja repercussão da morte do jornalista" (in Portuguese). Agência Brasil. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  15. "Jornalista Ricardo Boechat é velado no MIS, em São Paulo" (in Portuguese). Valor Econômico. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  16. "Bolsonaro lamenta mortee do jornalista Ricardo Boechat" (in Portuguese). Presidência da República. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  17. "Morte de Ricardo Boechat: repercussão" (in Portuguese). G1. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  18. "Ricardo Boechat: Brazil news anchor dies in helicopter crash". BBC. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  19. Grilo Serrinha, Domingos (11 February 2019). "Estrela do jornalismo Ricardo Boechat morre em queda de helicóptero" (in Portuguese). Correio da Manhã. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  20. Oliveira, Joana (12 February 2019). "A morte de Boechat, a voz do cotidiano de milhares de brasileiros, comove o país" (in Portuguese). El País. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  21. Brenner, Saullo (12 February 2019). "Seguidores de Silas Malafaia comemoram a morte de Ricardo Boechat" (in Portuguese). Metrópoles. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
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