Manaus, Brazil: A small single-engine aircraft crashed into the Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon River, on the morning of January 4, 2026, leaving both occupants with minor injuries, according to local sources and eyewitness footage.
The incident occurred in the vicinity of Paricatuba and Iranduba, in the metropolitan region of Manaus, Amazonas state. Video captured by witnesses including an architect riding a jet ski shows the aircraft flying at very low altitude before losing height and nose-diving into the water with a large splash.
Fernando Araújo, who recorded the dramatic sequence, told reporters he noticed the plane performing unusual low-altitude maneuvers over the river before the crash. In the footage, the aircraft appears to touch the water twice and make steep turns before the final descent.
According to local media reports, Araújo and others on boats and jet skis were first on the scene. They were able to reach the floating wreckage quickly and pull the pilot and passenger to safety, administering first aid before rescue teams arrived.
Both men aboard the aircraft were reported to have sustained injuries. The pilot suffered deep cuts to his forehead and was described as being in shock. The passenger reportedly had a smaller head wound and a puncture wound to his thigh.
Officials from the Amazonas Military Fire Department confirmed they were alerted and responded to the scene. When authorities arrived, the victims had already been removed from the water by civilian rescuers.
Local news outlets noted that a single small aircraft was involved in the accident, and there were no reports of additional persons onboard.
Following the rescue, firefighters inspected the area and reported no remaining hazards at the crash site. There has been no official release on the aircraft’s registration, operator, or flight plan as of this writing.
Brazil’s Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos (CENIPA), the aviation accident investigation authority had not yet confirmed receipt of a formal notification about the crash at the time of initial reporting. Investigators will likely examine factors such as flight control, altitude management, weather conditions, and mechanical systems to determine the circumstances that led to the loss of control over the river.
