All 62 Aboard Dead in Plane Crash Near São Paulo, Brazil
Desk Report, August 10, 2024: In a tragic incident, all 62 people aboard a regional turboprop plane were dead in a crash near Sao Paulo, Brazil. The aircraft, which was en route to Sao Paulo, went down in a residential area near Vinhedo on Friday.
Video footage shared on social media showed the ATR-made plane spiraling out of control before plummeting into a cluster of trees near several homes. The crash was followed by a large plume of black smoke, signaling the severity of the incident.
Authorities in Valinhos, a town near Vinhedo, confirmed there were no survivors from the crash. Fortunately, only one home in a nearby condominium complex suffered damage, and no residents were harmed.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, addressing the nation shortly after the crash, conveyed the devastating news and requested a minute of silence to honor the victims. “I have to be the bearer of really bad news,” the president stated solemnly.
The plane, operated by Voepass, had departed from Cascavel in the state of Parana and was heading to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport when it tragically crashed about 50 miles northwest of its destination.
Voepass, an unlisted airline, has yet to provide details regarding the cause of the crash. The aircraft, identified by FlightRadar24 as an ATR 72-500 turboprop, carried the registration PS-VPB. ATR, the manufacturer, is a joint venture between Airbus and the Italian aerospace company Leonardo.
In response to the crash, Sao Paulo’s state fire brigade swiftly dispatched seven crews to the scene to manage the aftermath and assist with the investigation.
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Uma notícia muito triste. Toda minha solidariedade aos familiares e amigos das vítimas. pic.twitter.com/eb47itDbe8
— Lula (@LulaOficial) August 9, 2024
