Popular Brazilian singer Marilia Mendonca dies in plane crash aged 26 along with four others
A GRAMMY winning singer has died in a plane crash alongside four others on board.
Marilia Mendonca, 26, was on her way to perform at a concert when the aircraft plummeted to the ground in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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4The plane crash-landed at about 3.30pm local time - just 12km from where Marilia was due to perform in Caratinga.
Pictures show the wreckage of the aircraft on the ground with emergency services at the scene.
Marilia's staff initially said she was alive and well after news of the accident emerged.
But they later confirmed the singer, who had a two-year-old son, died in the crash, and that her uncle was among four others killed.
The statement read: "With immense regret, we confirm the death of singer Marília Mendonça, her producer Henrique Ribeiro, her uncle and advisor Abicieli Silveira Dias Filho, the pilot and co-pilot of the plane, whose names we will preserve at this time.
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"The plane took off from Goiânia. bound for Caratinga/MG, where Marília would have a presentation tonight.
"At the moment, this is the information we have."
The airplane departed from the midwestern city of Goiania heading to Caratinga, where Marilia had a concert scheduled for later on Friday, according to news website G1.
"Marilia Mendonca leaves behind a legacy for Brazilian regional music and culture. She will certainly not be forgotten," Brazil's government said via its culture department.
In 2019, Marilia won the Latin Grammy award and her live album Todos os Cantos went triple platform.
Ciumeira - the lead song of the album - has been streamed almost 185million times of Spotify.
The fire department confirmed the singer's death on Twitter.
"This Friday, a small aircraft, model Beech Aircraft, crashed in the rural area of Piedade de Caratinga," a statement read.
"CBMMG confirms that the aircraft was carrying the singer Marília Mendonça and that she is among the fatal victims".
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