Tragedy Strikes: Plane Crash Near Sao Paulo Claims 62 Lives

A regional turboprop plane crashed near Sao Paulo, Brazil, killing all 62 people onboard. The Voepass airline flight took off from Cascavel and was headed for Sao Paulo's main airport. The accident occurred in Vinhedo, with local officials reporting no survivors. Investigation into the cause is ongoing.

A regional turboprop plane crashed near Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, resulting in the tragic loss of all 62 people on board. Local officials near the crash site confirmed the fatalities.

The airline Voepass, which operated the flight, stated that the plane was en route from Cascavel in the state of Parana to Sao Paulo's main international airport when it went down in the town of Vinhedo, about 80 kilometers northwest of Sao Paulo.

Footage shared on social media depicted the ATR-manufactured plane spiraling out of control before crashing behind a cluster of trees near houses, soon followed by a massive plume of black smoke. Despite the clear weather at the time, the forecast had predicted light rainfall and gentle winds.

Valinhos city officials, close to Vinhedo, reported no survivors and said that one home in a nearby condominium complex sustained damage, though its residents were unharmed. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed deep sorrow, calling for a minute of silence for the crash victims during a public event shortly after the incident.

The airline could not provide additional details on the crash's cause. ATR, a Franco-Italian company and the leading manufacturer of regional turboprop planes, acknowledged the accident in a statement, expressing their condolences and pledging full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

Immediately following the crash, Sao Paulo's state fire brigade dispatched seven crews to the scene. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 identified the downed aircraft as a 14-year-old ATR 72-500 turboprop. The last communication from the plane was recorded at 4:22 p.m., with the transponder showing a vertical descent rate of 8,000 to 24,000 feet per minute.

Additionally, FlightRadar24 highlighted a severe icing warning at altitudes between 12,000 and 21,000 feet, with the aircraft reportedly flying at 17,000 feet before descending. Voepass, formerly known as Passaredo, is Brazil's fourth-largest airline by market share, operating a fleet composed entirely of ATR aircraft.

(With inputs from agencies.)