Popular Brazilian singer, Gabriel Diniz, who is one of Brazil’s most successful current pop stars, has been killed in a plane crash, aged 28.
The plane took off from the city of Salvador in Bahia state on Monday 27 May, bound for Maceió in the east coast, but it crashed due to bad weather in the town of Porto do Mato, Estância, in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Diniz was killed along with two pilots, Linaldo Xavier, and Abraão Farias.
The star had reportedly been travelling to meet his girlfriend to celebrate her birthday.
‘It is with great pain that we can confirm the death of Gabriel Diniz and the plane’s crew,’ Gabriel’s representatives confirmed to Us Magazine.
Brazilian media reported that the Piper PA-28 Cherokee was deemed airworthy, but was not licensed for air taxi trips such as the one Diniz was apparently making. It was instead only meant to be used for flight training.
But Diniz’s father slammed the report and said Diniz had booked and paid for the flight, and had not caught a free ride as some of his friends had claimed.
Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) is reported to be investigating the crash, and has suspended the Aeroclube de Alagoas which operated the aircraft.
Diniz built up his music career while also working as an electrical engineer. He grew a huge following in Brazil, particularly in the wake of his 2018 hit, Jenifer, which has 237m views on YouTube.
His final Instagram post was following a concert in Feira de Santana, Brazil. “Always a joy to return to Feira de Santana and be greeted with such joy and with so much positive energy. Thank you for the kindness…until next time God willing” he wrote.
Here are photos from the scene with the wreckage of the small plane on display.
