Two men have miraculously survived with only minor injuries after their light aircraft plunged nose-first into a river in the Brazilian Amazon.
Dramatic Footage Captures Final Moments
The incident occurred on January 5, 2026, near the city of Manaus, Brazil. Shocking video shows the seaplane flying perilously low over the Rio Negro before it suddenly pitches downward and impacts the water with tremendous force, sending a huge splash into the air.
Eyewitness Fernando Araújo, an architect who was riding a jet ski at the time, reported seeing the aircraft behaving erratically. He told local media the plane had already skimmed the river's surface twice, as if attempting to land, before climbing again. "After that, it flew on for a short while and tried a manoeuvre, as if turning in to land, but it didn't manage it," he said.
Eyewitness Rushes to Rescue
Fernando Araújo was the first person to reach the partially submerged aircraft, identified as a Super Petrel LS seaplane. As he approached, he discovered two men on board. The older man, believed to be the pilot, was in a state of shock, while the younger passenger was able to use his phone to call for help.
Both individuals were successfully pulled from the wreckage. They received immediate first aid at the scene before being transported to hospital for further medical treatment. The local Fire Department confirmed in a statement that upon their arrival, "the two people on board the aircraft had already been rescued by members of the public."
Injuries and Aftermath
While the precise nature of their injuries remains unclear, photographs shared online show both men with plasters on their faces, and one also had a bandage on his knee. Firefighters secured the crash site and confirmed there was no immediate risk of explosion from leaking fuel.
In an online post, rescuer Fernando Araújo reflected on the event: "Today I witnessed an air accident in the Paricatuba region of Amazonas. We were the first to arrive and were able to help the pilot and passenger, who, by the grace of God, came out of the accident alive."
