A Voepass airline flight carrying 57 passengers and four crew members crashed on Friday, August 9, in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, killing all on board. The ATR 72-500 aircraft was en route from Cascavel in Parana state to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport when it plummeted into a residential area.
Images from local media showed the plane spiraling downward before crashing, creating a large column of smoke. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, but there were no survivors.
Initial reports suggested the plane was carrying 58 passengers, later corrected by the airline to 57. The city government in nearby Valinhos confirmed the fatalities and noted that recovery operations were ongoing. Sao Paulo State Governor Tarcisio de Freitas and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who declared three days of mourning, emphasized support for the victims’ families.
Voepass stated that the plane took off without any issues, and Brazil’s CENIPA aviation accident agency has launched an investigation. The aircraft’s black box has been recovered and is expected to aid in determining the cause of the crash.
Local witnesses described the terrifying moment of the crash, with one resident recounting how she saw the plane spinning from her balcony. No casualties were reported on the ground, and the fire caused by the crash was quickly controlled.