A regional plane carrying at least 62 people crashed Friday in a residential neighborhood in Brazil, killing all on board, officials in the South American country announced, as emergency crews blanketed the area.
In a briefing Friday afternoon, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said, "I have to be the bearer of really bad news," and called for a minute of silence to honor the 58 passengers and four crew members in the plane crash in Vinhedo, a city in the Sao Paulo region. The cause of the crash was unknown, he said.
“It appears all have died,” Lula said.
In a social media post, Voepass, a regional airline based in Sao Paulo state, confirmed its plane, flight 2283, had crashed. The plane departed from Cascavel, a Brazilian city near the country’s southern border with Paraguay and Argentina, and was headed to Guarulhos, just outside of Sao Paulo, Voepass said in its post.
FlightAware data indicates the plane, a twin-engine turboprop ATR-72, departed at 11:50 a.m. local time and was scheduled to land just before 2 p.m.
The airline said it hadn’t confirmed how the crash occurred or the status of the people on board.
The government of Sao Paulo state said on social media that civil defense and public security officials had mobilized in Vinhedo’s Capela neighborhood responding to the plane crash. Firefighters were called at around 1 p.m. local time and immediately sent seven teams to the scene, the government’s post said.
State police were mobilized to rescue victims, while other officials had moved to collect bodies, the post said. Local hospitals were prepared to assist any patients.
“My solidarity to all victims and those affected by this tragedy,” Sao Paulo state Gov. Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas said in a social media post.
The Associated Press reported that Brazilian officials closed the entrance to the residential neighborhood where the plane crashed.
Terrifying Footage of Crash
The Investigation Begins
Brazilian authorities, including the country’s air safety agency, have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators will likely examine the plane’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, as well as weather conditions and any potential mechanical issues.
Aftermath of the Crash
The crash has sent shockwaves through Brazil and the international community, as people grapple with the tragedy and offer condolences to the victims’ families. The crash has also raised concerns about aviation safety in Brazil, particularly as it follows a string of other accidents in recent years.
A Tragic Loss
The crash is a reminder of the risks inherent in air travel, and the devastating impact that accidents can have on families and communities. The loss of 62 lives is a tragedy that will be felt for years to come, and the investigation into the cause of the crash is critical to ensuring that such accidents are prevented in the future.
Contributing: Reuters
