- A tragic plane crash in Brazil’s São Paulo state killed all 61 people aboard an ATR 72-500 operated by Voepass airline
- President Lula declared three days of mourning as authorities investigate the cause of the crash, which occurred in a residential area
A tragic plane crash occurred in Brazil’s São Paulo state on Friday, resulting in the deaths of all 61 people on board, including 57 passengers and four crew members. The ATR 72-500 aircraft operated by Voepass airline was on a flight from Cascavel in Paraná state to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport when it crashed in Vinhedo.
The crash took place in a residential area, causing significant devastation. Local media broadcast images of the plane spiralling almost vertically before impact, followed by a large column of smoke rising from the crash site.
Authorities have confirmed that there were no survivors. Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing, focusing on identifying the victims. São Paulo State Governor Tarcisio de Freitas confirmed that recovery efforts would continue throughout the night.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy. Voepass has pledged full cooperation with authorities to determine the cause of the accident and is assisting the families of the victims.
The plane, which first flew in April 2010, took off without any reported flight restrictions and had all systems operational, according to Voepass. Brazil’s CENIPA aviation accident agency has launched an investigation into the crash. ATR, the aircraft’s manufacturer and a subsidiary of Airbus, is assisting investigators.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment of the crash, with one witness, Nathalie Cicari, recalling hearing a loud noise and seeing the plane spinning out of control. Another witness, Ricardo Rodrigues, described seeing many bodies on the ground at the crash site. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties on the ground, and the fire caused by the crash has been contained.
This incident adds to Brazil’s alarming number of aviation accidents, with CENIPA data showing 108 aircraft accidents and 49 deaths recorded so far this year. The last major crash involving an ATR 72 occurred in January 2023 in Nepal, where a similar aircraft operated by Yeti Airlines crashed, killing all 72 on board.