Devastation in Brazil: 61 lives lost in plane crash

A tragic incident occurred in Brazil's Sao Paulo state on Friday, as an airplane carrying 57 passengers and four crew members crashed, resulting in the loss of all lives on board, according to the airline's statement.

A tragic incident occurred when an ATR 72-500 aircraft, operated by Voepass Airlines, crashed in the city of Vinhedo. The plane was en route from Cascavel in southern Parana state to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport.

Initially, Voepass reported that the plane had 58 passengers on board. However, a statement on the airline's website later corrected the number to 57.

Footage captured by local media depicted a sizable aircraft spiraling and descending nearly straight down. At the same time, additional videos revealed a substantial plume of smoke emanating from the crash site, seemingly located within a residential vicinity.

According to an email sent to AFP, the city government of Valinhos, which was involved in the rescue and recovery operation in nearby Vinhedo, stated there were no survivors.

Vinhedo, a city of around 76,000, is approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo.

Sao Paulo State Governor Tarcisio de Freitas stated during a press briefing at the site that the recovery of the victims' remains for identification has commenced and will persist throughout the night.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has announced three days of mourning.

Voepass stated that it works closely with authorities to investigate and understand the accident's causes. The company also supports the families of the victims of Flight 2283.

According to the company, the twin-engine turboprop took off with all its systems operational and without any flight restrictions.

The aviation accident agency in Brazil, CENIPA, has initiated an investigation.

ATR, a Franco-Italian aircraft maker and Airbus subsidiary, has stated that its experts actively assist investigators in their efforts.

"Terrifying"

Martins Barbosa, a 49-year-old truck driver, was on duty when he received news of the nearby plane crash, just 150 meters (500 feet) away from his residence.

"I was filled with worry, fearing that it might have landed on my house, with my son inside," he shared with AFP. He felt despair until he received the reassuring news that his family was unharmed.

Nathalie Cicari, a resident near the crash site, described the impact as "terrifying," according to her interview with CNN Brasil.

"While enjoying her lunch, she recounted the moment when a deafening noise suddenly pierced the air nearby," she shared, likening the sound to that of a drone, albeit significantly louder.

From the balcony, a captivating sight unfolded before my eyes - a plane spinning through the air. It immediately became apparent that the plane's movement was far from ordinary.

Cicari emerged unharmed but was forced to evacuate her home as billows of black smoke engulfed the premises following the crash.

"Upon arriving at the scene, a grim sight unfolded. Numerous lifeless bodies lay strewn across the ground, a haunting testament to the tragedy," recounted Ricardo Rodrigues, a witness who spoke to local Band News.

Firefighters, military police, and state civil defense personnel were dispatched to the location.

According to military police, the accident did not result in any casualties on the ground. They also reported that the fire ignited by the crash had been successfully contained.

According to Sao Paulo state security official Guilherme Derrite, the plane's black box has been discovered and appears to be well-preserved. Derrite shared this information with reporters at the scene.

According to the website planespotters.net, the ill-fated plane took its inaugural flight in April 2010.

Air safety has significantly improved over the past few decades, decreasing fatal passenger plane crashes globally. However, it is worth noting that developing nations still experience such incidents more frequently.

According to data from CENIPA, Brazil has experienced a total of 108 aircraft accidents this year, leading to the unfortunate loss of 49 lives. It is important to note that this figure does not include the recent crash that occurred on Friday. In the past decade, a staggering 746 individuals have lost their lives in a total of 1,665 accidents across the nation.

In January 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Nepal when an ATR 72 operated by Yeti Airlines crashed, resulting in the loss of 72 lives on board.

The incident was attributed to a pilot error by Nepalese authorities.