A plane carrying 61 people crashed into a residential area in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state on Friday, resulting in a fiery wreck with no survivors, according to the airline’s statement on social media. The crash claimed the lives of all 57 passengers and 4 crew members.
The plane, en route to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport, crashed within a gated community in Vinhedo after taking off from Cascavel Airport at 11:46 a.m. local time. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
During an event in southern Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the news, asking for a moment of silence for the victims. He expressed his sorrow and extended condolences to the victims’ families and friends on social media.
Firefighters, military police, and civil defense teams were sent to the crash site, where authorities restricted access to the area. Witnesses reported that the plane narrowly missed their homes. Video footage showed wreckage and bodies, while aerial shots depicted the smoking remains of the plane.
The Brazilian air force and Federal Police have initiated investigations into the crash. VOEPASS is assisting victims’ families at Guarulhos airport.
The aircraft, believed to be an ATR 72-500 twin-engine turboprop, encountered severe icing conditions before the crash, as reported by FlightRadar24. The plane was flying at 17,000 feet when the incident occurred. ATR, the plane’s manufacturer, has offered support for the investigation.
This crash follows a similar tragedy in the Brazilian Amazon less than a year ago, where 12 people, including a baby, died. Residents near the crash site described the impact as terrifying, with one witness noting the unusual behavior of the plane before it went down.
The plane had been in service since April 2010.
