A devastating plane crash in São Paulo on Friday afternoon has resulted in the deaths of all 62 people on board, including 58 passengers and four crew members.
The ATR-72 aircraft, operated by Voepass Linhas Aéreas, was en route from Cascavel in the state of Parana to Guarulhos in São Paulo when it went down in the city of Vinhedo.
According to reports in Brazilian newspapers, the incident occurred at approximately 1:25 p.m. local time, near the Miguel Melhado de Campos highway in Vinhedo, a city located about 76 kilometers from São Paulo’s capital.
According to the Flight Radar website, the plane was cruising at 17,000 feet before it abruptly descended 4,000 feet in just two minutes.
The aircraft’s GPS signal was lost shortly before the crash, which has raised questions about what caused the sudden descent.
Video footage shared on social media captures the plane spiraling out of control before crashing into a cluster of trees and then plowing into a residential area.
The impact created a large plume of black smoke and flames, which were visible as the plane hit the side of a house.
The crash site was littered with burning debris and at least one body, while emergency services quickly arrived on the scene.
Ana Lúcia de Lima, a local resident, described the harrowing experience to UOL news. “The noise was so loud it sounded like it was falling into my house,” she said.
“The first blast was strong, there was already dark smoke coming out, and then there were several more explosions.”
São Paulo’s fire brigade confirmed the crash and reported that they had dispatched seven teams to manage the situation.
The response crews are working to clear the wreckage and secure the area.
The Brazilian Air Force has also sent a team of investigators to the site to determine the cause of the crash.
City officials in the neighbouring municipality of Valinhos reported that only one home was damaged in the crash, but fortunately, no residents were hurt.
In response to the tragedy, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led a moment of silence during a public event in Itajaí, located in the southeast of the country.
“I have to be the bearer of some very bad news,” President Lula said. “I would like everyone to stand for a minute of silence because a plane has just crashed in the city of Vinhedo in São Paulo.
“There were 58 passengers and four crew members, and it seems that all of them died. I would like to ask for a minute of silence for the victims.”
Voepass Linhas Aéreas is a regional airline in Brazil, operating domestic flights across the country.
The ATR-72 aircraft involved in the crash is a twin-engine turboprop commonly used for regional flights due to its reliability and efficiency.
However, this tragic incident has highlighted the need for a thorough investigation into aviation safety procedures and maintenance practices.
Last month, on July 24, 2024, a plane crash involving a domestic flight operated by Saurya Airlines occurred at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The crash resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including a Yemeni national and a child. The crash happened around 11:11 a.m. local time as the aircraft was attempting to take off for the resort town of Pokhara.
The aircraft veered off the runway shortly after departure and crashed in the eastern part of the airport.
The sole survivor was the pilot, who sustained injuries but is reported to be in stable condition. He was taken to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital with eye injuries, but doctors have assured that his condition is not life-threatening.
Following the crash, Kathmandu’s airport temporarily suspended operations to manage the emergency.
Rescue teams from the airport and the army quickly responded, battling flames and thick black smoke at the crash site.
