All Aboard Killed as Plane Carrying 61 Crashes in Brazil

São Paulo August 10 2024 : A regional turboprop plane carrying 61 passengers and crew crashed near São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, resulting in the deaths of everyone on board, according to local officials. The ATR 72-500 aircraft, operated by Voepass, went down near the town of Vinhedo, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of São Paulo.

Dramatic footage shared on social media captured the plane spinning uncontrollably before crashing behind a cluster of trees near residential homes. The crash was followed by a large plume of black smoke. Valinhos city officials reported that while one home in a local condominium complex sustained minor damage, no residents were injured.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, addressing the tragedy shortly after the crash, requested a moment of silence for the victims. “I have to be the bearer of really bad news,” he said.

The aircraft had taken off from Cascavel in the state of Paraná, en route to São Paulo’s main international airport. Voepass, the airline operating the flight, has yet to provide details on the cause of the crash. The aircraft, registered as PS-VPB, was listed by FlightRadar24 as an ATR 72-500 turboprop, a model jointly produced by Airbus and Italian aerospace group Leonardo.

Shortly after the crash, São Paulo’s state fire brigade dispatched seven teams to the scene for rescue and recovery operations. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.