Tragedy struck in Brazil on Friday as a plane operated by the Brazilian airline VoePass crashed in the country’s Sao Paulo state, killing all 61 people on board. The aircraft, carrying 57 passengers and four crew members, departed from Cascavel, Brazil, before crashing in a residential area in the city of Vinhedo.
The scene of the crash was captured in harrowing footage showing the plane spiraling downward before bursting into flames upon impact. Witnesses described the terrifying moment, with one resident named Ana Lucia expressing relief that no one on the ground was harmed.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for a moment of silence at an event in southern Brazil upon hearing the tragic news. VoePass staff at the Guarulhos airport are providing support to the victims’ families as they navigate this devastating loss.
Aviation experts are analyzing the incident, with former pilot Arthur Rosenberg suggesting that the plane may have experienced an engine failure or other malfunction leading to a rapid descent. The aircraft involved in the crash is believed to be an ATR 72-500 twin-engine turboprop, commonly used for shorter flights.
As investigations continue, the plane’s manufacturer, French-Italian ATR, has pledged full cooperation to determine the cause of the crash. The recovery of the black box, or flight data recorder, will be crucial in piecing together the events leading up to the tragedy.
The community of Vinhedo is left mourning the loss of all 61 individuals on board the ill-fated flight, as authorities work to uncover the circumstances surrounding the devastating crash.
