(Image source from: edition.cnn.com)

A tragic incident occurred in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, where a twin-engine turboprop aircraft crashed, resulting in the untimely demise of all 61 individuals on board. The plane, operated by Voepass airline, was en route from Cascavel in the southern state of Parana to Guarulhos airport in Sao Paulo city when it encountered a calamitous fate, plummeting vertically and spiraling to the ground in the town of Vinhedo. Distressing footage circulating on social media captures the plane's harrowing descent. The ATR 72-500 aircraft carried 57 passengers and 4 crew members, none of whom survived the catastrophic event. Brazilian authorities, including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Sao Paulo's state Governor, Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas, have expressed their deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, while also declaring a three-day mourning period. The flight recorders have been recovered, and the French-Italian plane manufacturer, ATR, has pledged its full cooperation in the ongoing investigation. Remarkably, despite the plane crashing in a residential area, no one on the ground was harmed, with only a single home in a local condominium complex sustaining damage. Emergency services remain at the scene, meticulously documenting the tragic incident. According to the update, the ill-fated flight had departed Cascavel at 11:56 local time (14:56 GMT).

The plane, built in 2010, was reported to be in good working order with proper documentation. The four crew members had the necessary licenses and qualifications. Tragically, two trainee doctors were among the passengers who perished. Local residents witnessed the devastating crash, with one describing the terrifying sound and sight of the plane spinning out of control before impact. Despite the plane's airworthiness and the crew's credentials, the passenger aircraft met a tragic end, leaving onlookers shaken by the catastrophic event unfolding before their eyes.

It was Brazil's worst aviation disaster since 2007, when a TAM Express plane crashed and caught fire at Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport, killing 199 people. President Lula expressed his condolences to the victims in his speech. “I would like everyone to stand for a minute of silence because I have very bad news to deliver,” he told the audience in a social media post in which he called the news of the plane crash “very sad.” . “We express our solidarity with the families and friends of the victims,” he said. According to local authorities, the city of Valinhos sent 20 emergency services to the crash site as part of a joint operation. There were three cars with 20 units each. The people have mobilized." The municipality of Valinhos said in a statement that "a Valinhos Guardia Civil vehicle and a Civil Defense Force vehicle" and ATR said in a statement that it had been informed of the accident involving the ATR 72-500 be. “We are looking for those affected by this incident. ATR experts are working hard to support both the investigation and our customers.”