Tragic Plane Crash Near Sao Paulo Claims 61 Lives

A regional turboprop plane tragically crashed in a residential area near Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, resulting in the loss of all 61 people on board. The flight, operated by regional airline Voepass, took off from Cascavel in the state of Parana and was headed to Sao Paulo’s international airport when it went down around 1:30 p.m.

Witnesses reported seeing the ATR-72 aircraft spinning out of control before it crashed in Vinhedo, a town about 80 kilometers northwest of Sao Paulo. Local resident Daniel de Lima described the scene, saying he heard a loud noise and saw the plane making a horizontal spiral, seemingly unable to move forward before it fell and exploded.

City officials from the nearby town of Valinhos confirmed that the plane struck a home in a condominium complex but miraculously, no residents were injured. De Lima speculated that the pilot may have tried to avoid crashing into a more populated neighborhood in the area.

Experts are puzzled by the plane’s unusual spiraling motion before impact. There’s speculation that ice could have formed on the aircraft or that there was an engine failure. However, investigators are being cautious, stating it’s too early to determine the cause of the accident.

Marcel Moura, the Chief Operations Officer of Voepass, mentioned that ice was predicted at flight altitudes but within acceptable ranges. He added that the plane’s de-icing system was declared operational prior to takeoff.

Celso Faria de Souza, a Brazilian aviation engineer and crash investigator, noted that ice buildup could have led to a stall, causing the plane to spiral down. Previous incidents involving ATR-72 aircraft have shown similar scenarios where ice led to crashes in the past.

The head of Brazil’s aviation accident investigation center, Cenipa, confirmed that the aircraft’s black box, containing vital flight data and voice recordings, had been located. Experts are now collecting information to understand what happened.

Since the crash, the aviation community has responded with deep concern. U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse emphasized that investigators will examine weather conditions as well as the functionality of the engines and controls before the plane lost control.

Voepass had initially reported that 62 people were aboard the plane. However, it was later clarified that the total included 57 passengers and 4 crew members, all of whom were carrying Brazilian documents. Some of the passengers were doctors on their way to a seminar, a fact noted by the Governor of Parana, Ratinho Junior, highlighting the tragic loss of life in such circumstances.

The crash marks Brazil’s deadliest aviation disaster since the 2007 TAM flight incident that claimed 199 lives. Investigators from both French and Canadian aviation authorities are set to assist in uncovering the cause of this unfortunate event.