Tragic Plane Crash in São Paulo Leaves 62 Dead: No Survivors, Says President Lula
A tragic plane crash occurred on Friday in Vinhedo, a residential area in São Paulo, Brazil, claiming the lives of all 62 people on board. The aircraft, an ATR-72-500 operated by Voepass, was en route from Cascavel, Paraná, to São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport when it lost control and crashed at approximately 1:25 p.m. local time.
The twin-engine plane, carrying 58 passengers and four crew members, spiraled out of control before plummeting into the backyards of two homes on Edueta Street in Vinhedo. Although the crash caused significant damage to the area, local authorities confirmed that there were no casualties among residents.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmed the deaths and expressed his condolences, requesting a minute of silence during a separate event. São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, who was attending a meeting in Espírito Santo, immediately traveled to the crash site to oversee rescue efforts.
Eyewitness Nathalie Cicari, a resident of Vinhedo, described the harrowing scene, saying, "I heard a loud noise and saw the plane spinning. I ducked and prayed as it crashed." The crash prompted evacuations due to heavy smoke, though no external injuries were reported.
The Brazilian Civil Defense and Voepass are assisting the families of the victims, providing support and accommodation in Vinhedo. Paraná Governor Carlos Massa Ratinho Junior declared three days of mourning in the state, expressing deep sorrow for the loss.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, with authorities setting up a crisis unit in the area. The bodies of the victims are being transported to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Campinas for identification. The crash has deeply shocked the nation, with images of the incident widely shared on social media.
