In a devastating incident on Friday, a regional turboprop plane carrying 61 people crashed near the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, killing everyone onboard. The aircraft, identified as an ATR 72-500 turboprop, was operated by the airline Voepass and had taken off from Cascavel in the state of Paraná. It was bound for Sao Paulo’s main international airport when it tragically went down in the town of Vinhedo, approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Sao Paulo.
Disturbing footage shared on social media captured the final moments of the aircraft, showing it spinning out of control before plummeting behind a cluster of trees near residential areas. A massive plume of black smoke followed the crash, signaling the devastating impact.
Local officials in Valinhos, near the crash site, confirmed that there were no survivors. Remarkably, only one home in a nearby condominium complex sustained damage, and none of the residents were injured in the crash.
“I have to be the bearer of really bad news,” said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at an event shortly after the incident. Expressing his condolences, he requested a minute of silence to honor the victims of the crash.
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In response to the disaster, Sao Paulo’s state fire brigade dispatched seven crews to the crash site to assist with the emergency response. Despite their swift action, all lives aboard were tragically lost.
Voepass, the airline operating the plane, stated that the aircraft was registered as PS-VPB. The company, however, has not yet provided details on what might have caused the crash. ATR, the manufacturer of the aircraft and a joint venture between Airbus and Italian aerospace company Leonardo, has not yet issued a comment on the incident.
This crash marks a dark day for Brazilian aviation, with the loss of all 61 passengers and crew casting a long shadow over the region. Authorities are expected to launch a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and prevent future tragedies.