A plane carrying 61 people crashed in a residential area in Brazil’s São Paulo state on Friday, resulting in a fiery wreck with no survivors. The airline, VOEPASS, confirmed that all 57 passengers and 4 crew members on board died at the scene.
Initially, the airline had reported 62 people aboard. The plane was en route to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport after taking off from Cascavel Airport at 11:46 a.m. local time. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
🚨🇧🇷Major plane crash in Brazil!
Expected dead 58 Passengers and 4 crew!
Plane exploded near houses but no people damaged yet on the ground hopefully.
More updates to come! pic.twitter.com/tgX4MS29ig
— James Rizk (@JamesRizk1) August 9, 2024
During an event in southern Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked for a moment of silence to honor the victims, expressing his condolences to their families and friends. Emergency teams, including firefighters and police, were sent to the crash site in Vinhedo, and the area was secured by authorities.
ANOTHER ANGLE OF THE TRAGIC PLANE CRASH IN BRAZIL TODAY 🚨
WHAT DO YOU NOTICE??? pic.twitter.com/CU3hhpOWbo
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) August 9, 2024
A resident named Ana Lucia, who witnessed the crash, shared her relief that there were no local casualties but expressed sorrow for the victims on the plane. The Brazilian Air Force and Federal Police have begun their investigations into the incident, with specialists being dispatched to the site.