
09/10/2025
In October 2009, the disappearance of a Brazilian military Cessna C 98 aircraft over the Amazon seemed destined to end in tragedy. The plane, carrying seven health officials and four crew members, vanished from radar while flying over one of the most impenetrable rainforests on Earth. With the dense jungle canopy obscuring any aerial search, hopes for survivors quickly faded.
Two days later, salvation came in the most unexpected way. Members of the Matis tribe, who live deep in the Amazon, discovered the wreckage along the remote Ituí River. Against all odds, nine people had survived the crash and were waiting desperately for help.
The Matis immediately took action. Drawing on their intimate knowledge of the land, they alerted Brazilian authorities and guided rescuers to the exact crash site. Thanks to their swift intervention and compassion, all nine survivors were brought to safety a powerful reminder of how Indigenous knowledge and courage can mean the difference between life and death in the heart of the jungle.