Horrible moment: Airship rented by the Brazilian football team crashes into a row of houses

This is the moment when an airship crashed into a row of houses in Brazil on Wednesday, injuring one person.

The airship was rented by Brazilian football team São Paulo FC for an advertising campaign and was conducting a test flight ahead of the Copa Libertadores quarter-final match against Botafogo on Wednesday evening when it suddenly crashed in the São Paulo district of Osasco.

The airship was en route from the municipality of Carapicuiba when it crashed at around 12:06 p.m., firefighters said.

The footage showed the airship on the roofs of houses while curious residents stormed out of their homes.

The pilot, whose name was not released, was rescued from the cabin and taken to a local hospital.

The authorities did not provide any information as to whether there were people in the houses at the time of the accident.

The airship was conducting a test flight when it suddenly crashed into several houses in Osasco, a district in the southeastern Brazilian city of São Paulo, on Wednesday afternoon.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention Center said investigators had been sent to the accident scene to begin their investigation.

“Data collection uses special techniques and is carried out by qualified and accredited personnel who collect and confirm data, preserve the elements, perform an initial verification of the damage caused to or by the aircraft and collect other information necessary for the investigation,” the agency said.

Firefighters said they were waiting for the city’s power company to shut off power in the area so they could remove the airship.

São Paulo FC said in a statement that the airship’s flight was planned over the Morumbi Stadium and the surrounding areas.

São Paulo FC said in a statement that it had already rented the airship in September 2023 to promote a match flying over the Morumbi Stadium and surrounding areas, which was also the case for Wednesday night’s Copa Libertadores match against Botagofo.

The football team’s crest was displayed on both sides of the airship’s canvas. On one side of the canvas was a Portuguese message that translated as “Fans who lead” and on the other side it said “Let’s Go São Paulo”

“The aircraft underwent a test this morning to prepare it for the night flight, previously approved by the ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency), to the stadium region,” the team said.

“The club reports that fortunately there were no serious injuries and is offering the team and other parties the necessary support.”

São Paulo FC said it had previously rented the airship, owned by Brazil Airship Industry and Air Services SA, to fly over and near the stadium during the Copa do Brasil final in September 2023.