Tragic Regional Plane Crash in Brazil Claims 61 Lives

A regional turboprop plane crashed near Sao Paulo, Brazil, killing all 61 people on board. The Voepass flight was en route to Sao Paulo's international airport from Cascavel, Parana. The incident occurred in Vinhedo, with no survivors. The cause remains under investigation.

A regional turboprop plane crashed near Sao Paulo in Brazil on Friday, killing all 61 people on board, the airline confirmed. The Voepass aircraft, bound for Sao Paulo's international airport, took off from Cascavel in the state of Parana. The plane crashed at approximately 1:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) in the town of Vinhedo, located about 80 km northwest of Sao Paulo.

Footage shared on social media showed the ATR-72 aircraft spinning uncontrollably before crashing behind a cluster of trees near some houses, followed by a significant plume of black smoke. Local resident Daniel de Lima reported hearing a loud noise and witnessing the plane spiral horizontally before exploding upon crashing.

Authorities have recovered the aircraft's black box, and initial analyses suggest the crash was not weather-related. Experts suspect engine failure as a probable cause, although definitive conclusions await further investigation. ATR specialists, along with French and Canadian investigators, are participating in the inquiry. This marks Brazil's deadliest aviation disaster since a 2007 accident that claimed 199 lives.

(With inputs from agencies.)