A passenger plane with 61 individuals aboard crashed near São Paulo on Friday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of all occupants, as confirmed by the airline Voepass in an official statement.
Dramatic video footage shared on social media depicted the aircraft descending and its wreckage engulfed in flames on the ground.
Voepass reported, “The company regrets to inform that all 61 people on board flight 2283 died at the scene,” officially lowering the initial death toll from 62. The composition included 57 passengers along with four crew members.
Officials from Voepass indicated that all passengers possessed Brazilian identification, although it remains unclear whether any held dual citizenship.
Flight tracking data indicated that the ATR 72-500, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft, plummeted 17,000 feet in just a minute, but the cause of this rapid descent is still unknown.
Video clips of the incident captured the plane spiraling out of control before crashing, causing panic among local residents. Another clip showed the aircraft wreck burning on the ground. Authorities confirmed that no individuals on the ground were injured.
The flight had departed from Cascavel in the state of Parana and was destined for Guarulhos in São Paulo when it lost signal shortly before 1:30 p.m. local time. Tracking revealed it began losing altitude one and a half minutes prior to the crash, descending approximately 250 feet in 10 seconds before a minor ascent and then a dramatic drop of nearly 17,000 feet within a minute. The last data transmission was recorded at 1:22 p.m.
While the exact cause of the incident has not been established, Voepass CEO Eduardo Busch stated during a press conference that they await access to communication records between the pilot and the control tower to gain clarity on the situation.
He noted that the plane was equipped with two black boxes designed to survive crashes, and that two specialized laboratories are prepared to retrieve the flight data, though there are concerns the devices may have sustained damage due to the severity of the accident.
A medical team on the scene is working to identify the victims, many of whom suffered extensive burns making visual identification impossible, as reported by São Paulo’s Security Secretary Guilherme Derrite. Fire outbreaks stemming from the crash have been brought under control. City officials announced that the remains of the victims are being transported to the Legal Medical Institute in Campinas for further legal processes.
To assist in identifying the deceased, officials have requested family members to provide medical records, including radiological, medical, and dental documents. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva interrupted a naval event to observe a moment of silence for the victims, later declaring three days of mourning.
Voepass representatives stated that the company is also securing accommodation and psychological support for the victims’ families.
One local resident described experiencing immediate panic, as she witnessed the plane crash into a neighbor’s house while she was having lunch. She expressed her gratitude for not being directly affected, emphasizing the fear that gripped the community as the incident unfolded.
An investigation into the crash is set to begin, with the Vinhedo City Hall waiting for the Brazilian Air Force to commence their inquiries.
Brigadier Marcelo Moreno, head of Brazil’s aviation accident agency CENIPA, indicated at a press briefing that there had been no emergency communications from the aircraft before the incident. Voepass’s CEO asserted the company will cooperate with CENIPA in the investigation process.
According to the Brazilian Aeronautical Registry, the plane had been manufactured in 2010 and acquired by Voepass in September 2022. Concerns about the aircraft’s operational status for air taxi services remain unclear.
Manufactured by ATR, representatives stated they are aware of the crash and are available to support investigators. ATR specialists are actively engaged in assisting both the investigation and the airline involved.
Flight experts noted that ATR 72 aircraft, produced by a consortium in Europe, have faced criticism in the past, with numerous incidents resulting in fatalities recorded globally.
Some individuals avoided boarding the ill-fated flight, with reports of at least 10 passengers at the incorrect gate, which prevented them from taking off. One man expressed profound relief at having missed the flight upon learning of the tragic crash.