Tragic Plane Crash in Brazil Claims All 61 Lives on Board, Investigation Underway

A passenger plane operated by Voepass Linhas Aéreas crashed in the city of Vinhedo, São Paulo state, on Friday, August 9, 2024. The plane crash resulted in the deaths of all 61 people on board. The aircraft, an ATR 72-500, had 57 passengers and four crew members. The Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency confirmed that the plane was in good operating condition and that the crew was fully licensed. Voepass revised the death toll from an initial count of 58 passengers to 57, along with the four crew members.

The crash, which occurred in a gated residential community, has led to a significant emergency response. While no local residents were injured, the site of the crash was described as a scene of destruction with a smouldering wreckage. Vinhedo City Hall has been coordinating with emergency services to provide assistance and has declared a three-day mourning period. The Brazilian Air Force is leading the investigation into the cause of the accident, with support from Brazil’s Federal Police and the aircraft manufacturer ATR.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva observed a moment of silence at a public event in response to the tragedy. The investigation revealed that the plane’s black box was found intact, and initial data suggested the aircraft was diving rapidly before the crash. The incident is considered the deadliest airline crash since January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight in Nepal, also involving an ATR 72, crashed, resulting in 72 fatalities.