Airplane Accident Kills Marília Mendonça at Age 26

Singer became the most listened to in the country by innovating sertanejo and giving voice to womens pain

Marília Mendonça, who became the most listened to singer in the country when she pioneered a musical genre recognized for the machismo of its lyrics, died on Friday (5) in a plane crash in Minas Gerais. She was 26 years old.

The "queen of suffering" and pioneer of feminejo— sertanejo from the feminine perspective, often of the betrayed woman—leaves behind a nearly two-year-old son.

A goiana from Cristianópolis, she started her career at 12 and was at her peak. Her death was mourned by diverse artists and politicians as well as fans.

The FAB Air Accident Investigation and Prevention Center is investigating the accident.

Her uncle, Abicieli Silveira Dias Filho, producer Henrique Ribeiro, pilot Geraldo Martins de Medeiros and co-pilot Tarciso Pessoa Viana died with the singer.

The aircraft, which crashed in Piedade de Caratinga when Marília and her team were traveling to a concert in neighboring Caratinga, has the registration PT-ONJ and belongs to the company PEC Táxi Aéreo, from Goiânia, where the singer lived. Built in 1984, it had an air taxi license.

According to the Military Police, the twin-engine had difficulty landing at the local airport, attempted a forced landing and fell into a waterfall around 4 pm. But before this it had crashed into an energy tower, which may have killed the victims.

On Saturday, even under the strong sun, tens of thousands of fans went to Goiânia (GO), the location of the wake, to say goodbye to the singer.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

Read the article in the original language