A Voepass flight carrying 61 people has crashed in Brazil, resulting in no survivors, as confirmed by authorities. The passenger plane was en route from Cascavel to Guarulhos Airport, near Sao Paulo. It was reported that the aircraft had 57 passengers along with four crew members on board, all of whom died in the incident, a detail reaffirmed by firefighters in the State of Sao Paulo.
Initially, Voepass reported there were 58 passengers, but later clarified the total number, stating that one ticketed passenger did not board the flight. The airline has not confirmed how the accident occurred.
Flight 2283 departed without operational issues, with all systems functioning properly according to Voepass. Brigadier Marcelo Moreno, head of Brazil’s aviation accident agency (CENIPA), indicated that the aircraft did not signal any emergencies prior to the crash, emphasizing that the investigation is still in its early stages.
The crash was reported to military police at around 1:28 p.m. local time. The 14-year-old ATR 72 aircraft was approximately 17,000 feet in the air when it suddenly began a rapid descent.
The plane went down near a residential area in Vinhedo, close to Sao Paulo, injuring one resident, as stated by police. A video of the incident captured the plane spiraling down, followed by a large fireball upon impact.
In response to the tragedy, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for a moment of silence to honor the victims during an event on Friday. The Governor of Sao Paulo is returning from an engagement in Vitoria to oversee the situation.
Brazil’s civil aviation agency has announced an investigation into the crash. The aircraft’s manufacturer, ATR, expressed its support for the investigation and the affected individuals, noting that their specialists are actively engaged in the process.
CENIPA investigators are on site to examine the crash, with the objective of preventing similar incidents in the future. The Brazilian Air Force stated that they aim to conclude the investigation as quickly as possible.