Iran Extends Condolences over Brazil's Plane Crash
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran extended condolences to Brazil over a plane crash in which the presidential candidate Eduardo Campos lost his life.
Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Marziyeh Afkham, expressed sympathy with the Brazilian government and nation over the incident in which seven people were killed.
On Wednesday, the presidential candidate Campos died aged 49, after his private jet encountered bad weather and crashed into houses in the coastal city of Santos.
The six other people travelling with Campos – including his wife and son - were also killed, as well as at least four people on the ground, according to local reports.
Air Force officials said that air traffic control lost contact with the 12-seater Cessna 560Xl jet after it could not land in Guaruja, having been confronted with cloudy, rainy weather.
It then crashed in the south-eastern city, some 70 kilometers east of Sao Paulo, according to city hall officials in Santos.
Television footage from the scene showed the wreckage of the plane smoldering among smashed buildings in the residential neighborhood.
The Brazilian Socialist Party (PSD) leader was governor of Penambuco state before announcing he was running for president in the October 5 elections. He was third in opinion polls. Previously he had served for 20 years as a state then federal congressman.
In light of the opposition leader’s death, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has cancelled all campaign activities for three days, Rousseff's Workers' Party said.
