Part 5/8:
The rescue operation over the next six hours was nothing short of extraordinary. Souza’s helicopter made an astonishing 32 landings, extracting a total of 307 people from the roof. The conditions were perilous; smoke and heat compromised the helicopter's performance, and as night fell, visibility waned, complicating the missions further.
Throughout the operation, emergency responders utilized the airport of Congonhas as a base for rescue and re-fueling, despite being the only airport serving São Paulo at the time. This situation led to the temporary suspension of commercial flights to ensure unhindered access for rescue operations.