A 28-year-old Portuguese pilot has died after a light aircraft crashed at Portimão Municipal Aerodrome on Saturday morning, 8 August.
The man was the sole occupant of the single-seat aircraft, which was towing an advertising banner.
The crash happened on the runway as the aircraft was landing. “The aircraft had taken off, circled the aerodrome and was preparing to collect the banner. It was while the banner was being collected that the incident occurred,” said Luís Mestre, commander of the Portimão Fire Brigade.
The pilot was trapped inside the aircraft. Emergency crews treated him at the scene, but he died from his injuries.
“Rescue operations began around one minute and 30 seconds after the accident, given that emergency services are on standby at this location,” Mestre added.
The crash also sparked a small fire, which was brought under control immediately.
The alarm was raised at 9.50am, with more than 20 firefighters, emergency medical personnel from INEM and members of the GNR attending the scene.
The victim has since been identified by authorities as João Martinho, a 28-year-old pilot from Lourinhã. He was also known locally as a football coach, and his death has prompted an outpouring of tributes in the Lourinhã area.
Sporting Clube Lourinhanense, where Martinho served as assistant coach of the under-12 team last season, expressed its sorrow at the young man’s “sudden loss”. The club said he had also been a youth player and had been part of the under-17 squad that won promotion in 2014.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the club paid tribute to its former player and coach, saying that “both as a player and a coach, he always displayed outstanding conduct”.
The Associação Vítor Baptista, in Lourinhã, also paid tribute to Martinho, highlighting his “commitment, dedication and the values he always demonstrated both on and off the pitch”.
“Former player and coach, he left his mark through his commitment, dedication and the values he always demonstrated both on and off the pitch. His passing is a deeply felt loss for everyone who had the privilege of knowing him,” the association said.
Source: JN
Photo credit: JN
