A devastating plane crash in São Paulo state, Brazil, has resulted in the deaths of all 61 people on board. The twin-engine ATR 72-500 aircraft, operated by Voepass, was flying from Cascavel, Paraná, to Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo when it crashed near the town of Vinhedo on Friday afternoon.
The crash occurred around 1:30 PM local time, as the plane lost altitude rapidly and spiraled out of control before plummeting into a residential area. Footage captured by local residents shows the horrifying moment the plane descended, followed by a massive plume of black smoke rising from the crash site. Despite the crash occurring in a populated area, no one on the ground was injured, though one home was significantly damaged.
The flight was carrying 57 passengers and four crew members, all of whom perished in the crash. Among the victims were two trainee doctors from the Uopeccan Cancer Hospital in Cascavel. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Brazil, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressing deep sorrow and offering his condolences to the families of the victims. He called for a minute of silence during a public event in honor of those who lost their lives.
Local authorities, along with police and fire services, quickly responded to the scene, working to contain the fire and secure the area. The flight recorders have been recovered, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. Initial reports indicate that the plane was in good operating condition, and the crew was fully qualified, with no emergency signals reported before the accident.
Witnesses described the terrifying moments before the crash. “I saw the plane spinning in the air before it crashed,” said Felipe Magalhaes, a local resident who witnessed the event. Another resident, Nathalie Cicari, recalled hearing a loud noise and then seeing the plane descend rapidly.
This crash is Brazil’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2007, when a TAM Express flight crashed at São Paulo’s Congonhas Airport, killing 199 people. The cause of the current crash remains under investigation, with authorities considering severe icing conditions as a potential factor.
Voepass, the airline involved, operates a fleet of ATR aircraft on domestic routes across Brazil. ATR, the aircraft’s manufacturer, has pledged full cooperation with the investigation and extended its condolences to those affected by the tragedy. Aviation experts have urged caution against premature conclusions, emphasizing the complexity of such incidents and the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the full chain of events that led to the crash.
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