A Voepass passenger plane carrying 61 people tragically crashed in Brazil on Friday, leaving no survivors, according to authorities. The aircraft was en route from Cascavel to Guarulhos Airport near Sao Paulo when the crash occurred.
The plane had 57 passengers and four crew members on board, according to the airline, Voepass. Initially, Voepass reported 58 passengers, but later confirmed the total number was 61, with all on board losing their lives in the crash. One ticketed passenger was not on the flight, authorities revealed.
While the cause of the crash remains unknown, Voepass stated that Flight 2283 took off without any operational issues, and all systems were functioning properly. The aircraft, a 14-year-old ATR 72 model, was flying at 17,000 feet when it suddenly began a rapid descent.
The crash was reported to military police at 1:28 p.m. local time. Disturbing footage captured the plane spiraling out of the sky before exploding into a large fireball upon impact.
One resident was injured in the crash, but details remain limited. Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, requested a moment of silence for the victims during an event on Friday. The governor of Sao Paulo has cut his trip to Vitoria short to address the situation.
Brazil’s civil aviation agency has launched an investigation into the crash, with ATR, the aircraft manufacturer, also fully engaged in supporting the inquiry. ATR expressed their condolences, saying, “Our first thoughts are with all the individuals affected by this event.”
