World
Tragic Plane Crash Near São Paulo Claims 62 Lives
A tragic plane crash near São Paulo has claimed the lives of 62 individuals, prompting an investigation into the causes and circumstances surrounding this devastating incident. Stay updated on the latest developments and responses to this heartbreaking event.
A passenger aircraft carrying 62 individuals tragically crashed on Friday just outside of São Paulo, Brazil. The flight, operated by VoePass, was en route from Cascavel, Brazil, to its destination in São Paulo when the incident occurred in the city of Vinhedo.
The airline released a statement indicating that “there is still no confirmation of how the accident occurred nor the current status of passengers who were on board.”
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, while attending an event on the same day, requested a moment of silence in honor of those on the flight, expressing his sorrow by stating, “It seems that all have died.”
In the wake of the disaster, several videos surfaced online depicting the plane in a slow spiral as it descended towards the ground. Footage captured the harrowing moment, concluding with a massive black plume of smoke rising ominously from the site. Other recordings illustrated the aftermath, showcasing the wreckage of the aircraft alongside nearby vegetation engulfed in flames.
Globo, Brazil’s leading television network, interrupted its Olympic coverage to provide live aerial footage that revealed firefighters working diligently to extinguish the smoking crater left by the crash, next to the shattered remains of the plane. Reports indicated that two nearby residential buildings sustained significant damage, though Vinhedo’s security secretary clarified that the aircraft did not collide with any structures and that, fortunately, no injuries on the ground had been reported.
According to FlightRadar24, a reputable provider of flight data, the aircraft involved was an ATR 72, a twin-engine regional jet produced by ATR, a collaboration between two prominent European aerospace manufacturers, Airbus and Leonardo. Brazilian aviation records show that this particular plane was manufactured in 2010 and was certified to carry a maximum of 68 passengers.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Ana Ionova contributed reporting from Rio de Janeiro, and Niraj Chokshi from New York.