A tragic plane crash occurred in Brazil’s São Paulo state on Friday, resulting in the death of all 61 people onboard. The ATR 72-500 aircraft, operated by Voepass airline, was en route from Cascavel in Paraná state to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport when it went down in Vinhedo, a city about 80 kilometers northwest of São Paulo.
Initial reports from Voepass indicated that the plane was carrying 58 passengers, but this number was later corrected to 57. Local media footage revealed the aircraft spinning dramatically as it descended, with a large column of smoke rising from the crash site. The crash happened in what appeared to be a residential area.
“There were no survivors,” confirmed the city government of Valinhos, which assisted in the rescue operations. São Paulo State Governor Tarcisio de Freitas reported that the recovery of the victims’ remains for identification was underway and would continue through the night. In response to the tragedy, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared three days of mourning.
Voepass stated that it was cooperating with authorities to investigate the accident’s cause and providing support to the victims’ families. The plane, a twin-engine turboprop, had reportedly taken off with all systems operational and without any flight restrictions. Brazil’s CENIPA aviation accident agency has launched an investigation into the crash, with ATR, the aircraft’s manufacturer, offering assistance to the inquiry.
Witnesses described the crash as terrifying, with local resident Nathalie Cicari recalling a loud, abnormal noise before seeing the plane spinning in the sky. Another witness, Ricardo Rodrigues, reported seeing many bodies on the ground. Despite the severity of the accident, no casualties were reported on the ground, and the fire caused by the crash was quickly brought under control.
The aircraft’s black box has been recovered and appears to be intact. This incident is part of a broader trend, as Brazil has seen 108 aircraft accidents so far this year, with 49 fatalities. Globally, aircraft accidents have become rarer, though they remain more common in developing countries.
