Brazil's media reports presidential candidate dies in plane crash

Local reports said Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos was among those on board a plane that crashed in Santos, near Sao Paulo Early reports on Wednesday said Campos was among two killed when a Cessna 560XL corporate jet crashed. His press secretary could not be reached for confirmation. The Folha de S.Paulo news website reported that at least two people had died in the crash with "at least 10 injured" and taken to local hospitals. The plane, which was flying from Rio de Janeiro to the coastal city of Guaruja just outside Santos, crashed at around 10 a.m. local time (14.00 GMT). The Santos fire department confirmed that a Cessna 560XL plane had crashed. The corporate jet can carry two crew and up to 10 passengers. At least seven of the casualties were taken to a nearby hospital following the crash but the fire department was unable to comment on the condition of those injured or confirm any fatalities.

Campos, an ex-governor of Pernambuco state in north-eastern Brazil and a former environment minister, is running for president for the Brazilian Socialist Party, known as the PSB. He had the support of around nine percent of those surveyed in recent polls.

Local aviation authorities said the jet was preparing to land in Guaruja, a small city neighboring Santos, when the crash happened. Three residential buildings in the central area of the city were destroyed in the crash.

Santos is a major city in Sao Paulo state, located around 50 km from Sao Paulo city.

Heavy rain and extremely poor visibility were reported at the time of the incident and Brazilian Air Force officials said air traffic control lost contact with the plane when it was unable to land in Guaruja due to bad weather. An investigation has been opened.