Lito Sousa, influencer behind the "Aviões e Músicas" channel, dies at 59

Influencer, pilot, and aviation expert Lito Sousa died this Thursday (1st) at the age of 59. His death was announced by his wife, Mila Seidl, on social media. "A big hug and see you on the next flight. It was an honor to have traveled with you. I love you. Always," she wrote in the caption of a farewell video. In another part of the post, she said that "the Great Captain decided to take him close to Him." Joselito Geraldo de Sousa was born on January 25, 1967, in Natal (RN), and grew up in Santos (SP). He spent over three decades in aviation: he trained in aircraft maintenance and worked for companies such as Varig, Transbrasil, and United Airlines before bringing his expertise to the internet.

The "Aviões e Músicas" channel, launched in 2010, amassed around 4 million subscribers and over 1.2 billion views. His audience consisted largely of passengers who grip their armrests during turbulence. Lito also founded the Lito Academy and the "No Fear of Flying" course, and wrote the book *Onde Morrem os Aviões* (Where Airplanes Die). In July 2026, he announced a diagnosis of intermediate-aggressiveness prostate adenocarcinoma. Neurological symptoms—numbness and loss of movement in his left arm—led him to the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital. On August 21, Mila confirmed a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare, progressive, and fatal prion disease with no known cure.

In September, he received the experimental drug ALN-6457—previously tested only on animals—under special authorization from Anvisa; he was the first person to receive it. The disease progressed rapidly. Reports indicate that he was at home in the Guarulhos region, receiving palliative care. He is survived by his wife, Mila Seidl, and his seven-year-old son, Malone. According to his family and the press, the formal cause of death is CJD.

Morre, aos 59 anos, Lito Sousa, influenciador do canal Aviões e Músicas#lito #LitoSousa #RIP #luto #avioesemusicas pic.twitter.com/HA2aHgNVbH — K13 News (@K13News) October 1, 2026