A devastating plane crash in the Brazilian state of São Paulo has resulted in the deaths of all 61 people on board. The incident involved a twin-engine turboprop aircraft, an ATR 72-500, which was en route from Cascavel in Paraná to Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo city. The crash occurred in the town of Vinhedo.
Voepass Airline confirmed that the plane, which was carrying 57 passengers and four crew members, came down in a residential area. Footage circulating on social media shows the aircraft spiraling as it descended vertically before impact. Fortunately, no one on the ground was injured, though one home in a local condominium complex sustained damage.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences, offering solidarity to the victims’ families and friends. The state Governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, declared three days of mourning in honor of the deceased.
The plane’s flight recorders have been retrieved, and the French-Italian plane maker, ATR, has pledged cooperation with the ongoing investigation. According to Brazil’s civil aviation agency, the aircraft, built in 2010, was in good operating condition with valid registration and airworthiness certificates. All four crew members were properly licensed and qualified.
The Uopeccan Cancer Hospital in Cascavel confirmed that two of its trainee doctors were among the victims. Eyewitnesses described the crash as a terrifying event. Felipe Magalhaes recounted hearing the plane’s descent and witnessing the crash from his home, while Nathalie Cicari described hearing a loud noise and seeing the plane spinning.
The crash is Brazil’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2007 when a TAM Express plane crashed at São Paulo’s Congonhas Airport, killing 199 people.
President Lula, addressing the tragedy at a public event, paid tribute to the victims with a moment of silence and expressed his deep sadness on social media. In response to the crash, the nearby town of Valinhos deployed 20 emergency personnel to assist at the site. Valinhos City Hall confirmed the mobilization of various emergency vehicles for the operation. ATR has expressed its condolences and commitment to supporting the investigation and assisting the affected parties.
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