São Paulo, Brazil: A regional turboprop plane carrying 61 people tragically crashed near São Paulo on Friday, killing everyone on board. The crash occurred near the town of Vinhedo, about 80 kilometers northwest of São Paulo, sending shockwaves through the local community and the nation.
Dramatic video footage shared on social media showed the ATR-made plane spiraling out of control before crashing behind a cluster of trees near residential houses. The impact caused a large plume of black smoke to rise into the sky, visible from a distance.
Local officials from the city of Valinhos, near the crash site, confirmed that there were no survivors. Fortunately, only one home in a nearby condominium complex sustained damage, and none of the residents were injured.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking at an event shortly after the incident, expressed his deep sorrow. “I have to be the bearer of really bad news,” he said, calling for a minute of silence to honor the victims of the crash.
The plane, operated by the airline Voepass, had departed from Cascavel in the state of Paraná and was en route to São Paulo’s main international airport when it went down. The aircraft, identified by its PS-VPB registration, was an ATR 72-500 turboprop, according to flight tracker FlightRadar24. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and the airline has yet to provide further details.
In response to the disaster, São Paulo’s state fire brigade quickly dispatched seven crews to the crash site. Meanwhile, ATR, the manufacturer of the aircraft and a joint venture between Airbus and Italian aerospace group Leonardo, has not yet issued a statement.
As authorities continue their investigation, the country mourns the loss of 61 lives in this tragic accident.
