Fatal Plane Crash Near Sao Paulo: Ice or Engine Failure Speculated

A regional turboprop plane operated by Voepass crashed into a residential area near Sao Paulo, killing all 61 on board. Video showed the ATR-72 in a flat spin before crashing. Experts speculate ice buildup or engine failure, but comprehensive investigation is ongoing, involving multinational cooperation.

A regional turboprop plane fell into what aviation experts term a flat spin, before crashing in a residential neighborhood near Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, claiming all 61 lives aboard. The plane, operated by Voepass and bound for Sao Paulo's international airport, had taken off from Cascavel, Parana, before it crashed around 1:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) in Vinhedo, approximately 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo.

Video footage circulating on social media showed the ATR-72 aircraft spiraling out of control before it disappeared behind trees near houses, followed shortly by a large plume of smoke. Witness Daniel de Lima reported hearing a loud noise and seeing the plane in a horizontal spin before it crashed and exploded.

City officials confirmed that a home in Vinhedo was damaged when the plane landed in its backyard, although no residents were injured. Initial speculations among aviation experts suggest that ice buildup or engine failure may be behind the crash, but comprehensive investigations are still underway, including the analysis of the recovered 'black box' and the involvement of international investigators.

(With inputs from agencies.)