Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash that killed 61 people.
This is likely the deadliest crash in the history of Brazilian aviation. A plane carrying 61 passengers and crew crashed onto a property in a residential area while en route to São Paulo. None of the 57 passengers and four crew members survived. This is not the first incident involving this type of aircraft.
A plane carrying 61 people crashed into a residential area in the city of Vinhedo, São Paulo state, Brazil, on Friday afternoon local time, according to the city's administration. All 57 passengers and four crew members on board VoePass Airlines Flight 2002 were killed. Initially, the airline reported 58 passengers, later correcting the number.
The aircraft was traveling from Cascavel in Paraná state to Guarulhos in São Paulo. São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport is Brazil's largest airport. In December 2020, a similar aircraft crashed in Nepal, killing 72 people. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked attendees at an event in southern Brazil to observe a minute of silence. "This is very sad news. My deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends of the victims," he posted on X.
According to G1 news portal, citing local authorities, the plane crashed near a house where residents were present, but no one on the ground was injured. An eyewitness who recorded a video of the burning plane told UOL TV: "I've never heard such a loud noise in my life." Firefighters are at the scene with rescue teams, and hospitals in Vinhedo are on high alert. In addition to firefighters, the Civil Defense and police are also responding, G1 reported.
Investigation into the cause of the crash
Images and videos on social media show a plane spiraling out of control and falling from the sky, followed by thick smoke. Data from Flightradar 24 suggests the plane lost nearly 4,000 meters in altitude in less than a minute.
São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said: "My solidarity goes out to all the victims and those affected by this tragedy." He promised all necessary support. The cause of the crash has not been determined yet. VoePass Airlines said in an initial Instagram post that it could not comment on the cause of the crash. The Brazilian Federal Police has launched an investigation into the accident. According to G1, police have set up a crisis center at the home of a resident in the gated community where the tragedy occurred.
Remembering an earlier crash
The crash is one of the deadliest in Brazilian aviation history, according to UOL. Many remember the crash of November 28, 2016, when a plane carrying the Brazilian football club Chapecoense crashed on its way to Medellín, Colombia, for the Copa Sudamericana final. Seventy-one people died, including almost the entire team, coaches, staff, and accompanying journalists. Six passengers survived.
The Friday's disaster was a turboprop passenger aircraft of the ATR 72 type. The model is a high-wing aircraft of the Franco-Italian consortium Avions de Transport Régional. In January 2023, 72 passengers, including four crew members, perished when an ATR 72-500 crashed while attempting to land at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal.
The Commission has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, as the Brazilian Federal Police is currently conducting a probe regarding the tragic incident involving VoePass Airlines Flight 2002.
Previous incidents involving the ATR 72 type, such as the one in Nepal in January 2023, may provide valuable insights for the Commission's investigation.
