Mila Seidl, the wife of Brazilian aviation specialist Lito Sousa, has asked mourners not to take photographs or record videos during his public wake.
The aviation content creator died on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Born in 1967, Sousa was 58 or 59 years old at the time of his death. Seidl, an online influencer, posted a series of videos on Instagram on Friday to thank supporters for their kindness and to explain why recording devices would be barred from the memorial service in São Paulo.
Seidl said she chose to keep the ceremony open to the public because Sousa was widely beloved by fans across the country. However, she appealed directly to visitors to keep their phones away, explaining that any photograph or video uploaded to social media can never be fully erased.
Her primary concern was protecting the couple's seven-year-old son. Seidl explained that she wanted to shield the boy from painful images circulating online and ensure that he preserved a handsome, positive memory of his father.
She added that their son had made his own decision not to attend the wake, a choice she viewed as entirely fair and mature. She explained that skipping the service would help the child remember his father as he had lived, rather than in grief.
Preserving family privacy
The family had worked carefully throughout Sousa's illness to ensure that pictures of him in a weakened state never surfaced online, Seidl said. She emphasized that she did not want his final moments exposed to internet scrutiny, urging anyone attending the ceremony to respect that boundary.
While signs instructing attendees not to take pictures would be placed throughout the building, Seidl noted that visitors often take photos regardless of posted warnings. She pleaded with mourners to honor the family's wishes, expressing gratitude to those who had prayed for them and stood by them throughout his medical journey.
The memorial was arranged to take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday at Avenida Braz Leme 2594, in the Santana neighborhood of São Paulo. The morning ceremony offered members of the public a three-hour window to pay their respects to the creator.
Pioneer of aviation education
Sousa was one of Brazil's most prominent aviation communicators, known for translating complex technical concepts into accessible language. An experienced aircraft maintenance technician, he spent more than three decades servicing commercial passenger planes before bringing his expertise to online platforms.
Through his educational videos, Sousa explained how aircraft systems function, analyzed commercial aviation incidents, and calmed nervous passengers who struggled with a fear of flying. His relationship with Seidl also began through digital communication, after the couple met on the video platform Skype before getting married.
Tributes from the aviation industry
His death led to an outpouring of grief from the Brazilian aerospace community, including a formal statement from the National Civil Aviation Agency, the federal regulatory body known as Anac. The agency oversees civil aviation operations, certifies aircraft, and enforces air safety standards across Brazil.
In its tribute, the agency lamented Sousa's passing and emphasized his exceptional importance to civil aviation in the country. The authority praised his role in demystifying flight mechanics and helping millions of people understand the rigorous safety practices that govern modern air travel.
