We might try not to think about it, but when we board a plane, we put our lives in the hands of the pilot. We have to give up control. Thankfully, the pilot of a small plane in Brazil was quick to think on his feet, and because of that, saved the lives of the six people on board.
On March 11, 2023 a single-engine Cirrus SR22 experienced engine failure not long after takeoff from Pampulha Airport in Belo Horizonte. The astute pilot deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, saving the day. His passengers included a 3-year-old and a newborn baby.
The Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association summed up what happened. “Pilot reported loss of engine power during cruise, attempted return to airport, and activated CAPS when realizing there was insufficient glide range,” the association reported. The CAPS system is a whole-plane parachute recovery system that has saved 249 lives so far. In the US, it was first certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in 1998.
The video looks scary because the plane bounces on impact, but the parachute did its job. Authorities on the ground said the passengers and pilot were totally fine after the parachute landing. “The entire crew was conscious, oriented and without apparent injuries,” the Minas Gerais Military Fire Department stated.
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The plane was new, having been built in 2022. It is owned by Bradesco Leasing e Arrendamento Mercantil. It was operated by Volare Equipamentos Aéreos.
