Sunbathers killed as plane lands on packed Portugal beach

Two people sunbathing on a Portuguese beach have been killed after a light plane was forced to make an emergency landing near Lisbon.

Portuguese coastguard officers check a small plane after an emergency landing at Sao Joao beach in Costa da Caparica, outside Lisbon, Wednesday, Aug. 2 2017.

Portuguese coastguard officers check a small plane after an emergency landing at Sao Joao beach in Costa da Caparica, outside Lisbon, Wednesday, Aug. 2 2017. Source: AAP

A light plane has made an emergency landing on a packed beach near Lisbon, 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, 30km 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 two pilots of the plane were not injured and are being questioned, a spokesman for the authority said.
The two pilots of the plane were not injured and are being questioned, a spokesman for the authority said. (AAP) Source: AAP

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 4.50pm.

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.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world