Tragic Plane Crash in Brazil Claims 61 Lives

In a heartbreaking incident in Brazil, a plane crash has left all 61 people on board dead. The aircraft, a twin-engine turboprop called the ATR 72-500, was on its way from Cascavel, located in the southern state of Paraná, to Guarulhos airport in São Paulo when it tragically came down in the town of Vinhedo, according to Voepass airline.

Eyewitnesses shared videos on social media showing the plane spiraling down before crashing. It was carrying 57 passengers along with four crew members, and local authorities have sadly confirmed that there were no survivors.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences, reaching out to the families of the victims. In a statement, he called the news “very sad” and offered his solidarity to those affected by this disaster.

Meanwhile, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, the Governor of São Paulo, has declared a three-day mourning period in honor of those lost. The flight recorders from the aircraft have been retrieved, and ATR, the plane’s manufacturer, stated they would assist in the ongoing investigation.

It’s worth noting that the plane crashed in a residential area, but fortunately, no one on the ground was hurt. Only one home at a local condominium complex suffered minor damage. Footage from the scene shows a large area engulfed in smoke and flames.

The aircraft had taken off from Cascavel at 11:56 local time, and its last signal was recorded about an hour and a half later. Brazil’s civil aviation agency reported that the plane, built in 2010, had all the required certifications and was in good operating condition before the crash.

Tragedy hit hard, as two trainee doctors from Uopeccan Cancer Hospital in Cascavel were among the passengers on the flight.

Residents in the vicinity witnessed the crash, with one individual, Felipe Magalhaes, recounting how he looked out his window just in time to see the plane fall, a moment that left him “terrified.” Another resident, Nathalie Cicari, described hearing a loud noise and seeing the aircraft spinning, realizing something was horribly wrong.

This incident marks Brazil’s deadliest plane crash since 2007, when a disaster at São Paulo’s Congonhas airport led to 199 fatalities. In a somber event where President Lula was speaking, he called for a minute of silence to honor the victims, marking the gravity of this situation.

Local authorities have mobilized 20 emergency personnel from the nearby town of Valinhos to assist at the crash site, including vehicles from the Municipal Civil Guard and Civil Defense.

ATR expressed their condolences to all those affected, stating that their specialists are actively engaged in supporting both the investigation and the impacted customers.