Trainee pilot dies after celebrating first solo flight with oil drenching ritual that sparked fatal allergic reaction

A PILOT died after a bizarre ‘oil bath’ ritual celebrating his first solo flight triggered a fatal anaphylactic shock. Gustavo Henrique Lara, 27, suffered the fatal reaction at an event held to mark the end of his eight-year-long aviation training in southern Brazil. Police are investigating the death of a flight school student after he was drenched in oil as part of a bizarre ritual Credit: Instagram/gustavoh_lara Gustavo Henrique Lara suffered a fatal anaphylactic shock in southern Brazil Credit: Instagram/gustavoh_lara Lara was covered in aircraft engine oil from the neck down at the Ponta Grossa flight school in the southern state of Parana on July 16. He died after suffering a seizure and three cardiac arrests. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Just an hour before the tragedy, Lara had posted a photo of the plane he flew in and chillingly wrote: “Today could be the best day of my pilot training so far.” A man has been arrested for manslaughter after turning himself in to the cops. He has been identified locally as a flight instructor at the school and was subsequently released on bail. There is no evidence to suggest the instructor, who had insisted Lara was only covered from the neck down, had any intention of killing him. Lara began complaining of dizziness following the wild ritual and soon after it became clear that something was seriously wrong, a witness said. They continued: “He was having a lot of difficulty breathing. Most read in The Sun “Then we rushed over to try to do something, started shouting to call the ambulance, to call for help from the helicopter crew as well, who were right there nearby.” Lara’s friends and family have paid tribute to him as a “beautiful boy” who will be deeply missed. His cousin Barbara Giacomitti said: “Gustavo was a dreamer and, above all, a hard worker. “He achieved everything through his own merit. His greatest dream was always aviation. “He dedicated years and years to it. “In fact, he practically lived in the sky.” “It is an irreparable loss. There will never be another like him. “But how fortunate we were to have been among the lucky ones. He left too soon, but God needs the best by His side, and he was the best.” An investigation has been launched into his shock death. The oil bath is a traditional baptism ritual at many flight schools in Brazil. It is performed on student pilots to celebrate a major milestone in their careers, such as their first solo flight, and marks their entry into the community of pilots. Police chief Lucas Petry said: “Gustavo’s close friends have said he had been very excited about that day, that he had been talking about it for a month and had invited everyone to be part of that moment.” Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) have said they condemn the use of oil and lubricants in celebration rituals. ANAC said: ““ANAC warns that aviation chemicals, such as aviation oils and lubricants, should under no circumstances come into contact with the skin, as indicated on the labels of these materials. “It is essential to rethink rituals marking the completion of training stages and ensure that any celebration is conducted responsibly, without exposing students, instructors, or third parties to risk.” The Agency extended their sympathies to his family, friends, and everyone who knew him. Comment now