A tragic aerial collision occurred this Friday when a turbo-propeller ATR-72-500 aircraft, operated by the Voepass airline, carrying 57 passengers and four crew members, crashed in the town of Vinhedo, located in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The incident was reported by the news portal G1.
The devastating incident, which took place in the early afternoon, left no survivors, according to the Valinhos City Council, a neighboring town to Vinhedo. In a statement, local authorities confirmed that “there were no survivors,” highlighting the scale of the tragedy.
The plane had taken off from Cascavel, in the state of Paraná, with its final destination being Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo. Initially, 58 passengers were reported dead, but the number was later updated to 57 by Voepass in an official statement. The airline also emphasized its commitment to the victims’ families, assuring that they would be given “unrestricted assistance” and that they would work closely with authorities to clarify the causes of this fatal accident.
The crash occurred at 13:25 local time, according to the airline. Seven fire brigade teams were immediately deployed to the crash site to contain the situation and try to mitigate the effects of the catastrophe.
The crash site is in a residential area, specifically the Recanto Florido condominium, according to the Vinhedo City Council. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among residents, despite the plane crashing into a densely populated area. Several people at the site captured images of the exact moment the aircraft fell, which quickly spread on social media, amplifying the impact of the news.
Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) expressed its “deep regret” over what happened, extending its solidarity to the families and friends of the victims. In a statement, Anac assured that they are monitoring the assistance the airline is providing to those affected and that they are taking the necessary measures to thoroughly investigate the aircraft and crew’s situation.
Currently, the causes of the accident have not yet been confirmed, according to Voepass. The airline also stated that it is using “all available means” to support those involved in the tragic event.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian Federal Police has called in experts specialized in air accidents to investigate the incident in depth. “The aircraft is completely destroyed,” commented Colonel Cássio Araújo, general commander of the São Paulo Military Police, who is overseeing operations at the crash site.
Osmir Aparecido Cruz, Vinhedo’s Secretary of Security, told a Brazilian television channel that, “in principle,” no victims outside the aircraft have been reported, which has been a small relief amidst this tragedy.
In an official event, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, referred to the unfortunate accident. During his speech, he asked those present to stand for a minute of silence in tribute to the victims. “This is very bad news; it seems that everyone has died,” he said, visibly moved.
The Government of the State of São Paulo has mobilized the Superintendence of Scientific and Technical Police (SPTC), as well as the Civil and Military Police, to assist in rescue operations. Additionally, personnel from the Legal Medical Institute (IML) and other specialists in body recovery have been dispatched to support operations at the crash site.
