Footage of the Voepass ATR72-500 Crash Near São Paulo That Claimed 62 Lives

On a tragic event near São Paulo, a passenger plane carrying 62 people crashed, resulting in the loss of everyone on board. Eyewitness footage circulating on the internet shows the dramatic fall of the plane and the subsequent fiery wreckage on the ground.

Initial reports from the regional airline Voepass indicated 61 fatalities. However, further confirmation revealed that there were 62 individuals on the ill-fated flight. The aircraft was an ATR 72-500, a twin-engine turboprop plane. All passengers had Brazilian documents, though Portugal’s foreign ministry confirmed one Portuguese citizen was among the victims.

The Tragic Descent

According to flight tracking data, the plane plummeted 17,000 feet in just one minute before the crash, but the reason for this drastic drop remains unknown. Social media videos depict the plane spiraling downwards before crashing, sending neighborhood residents into panic and fear. Despite the destruction, no one on the ground sustained injuries, as confirmed by city officials.

The plane had departed from Cascavel in Paraná and was en route to Guarulhos in São Paulo when it lost signal around 1:30 p.m. local time. It started losing altitude rapidly from its cruising height of 17,000 feet at 1:21 p.m. Within a minute, the plane had descended dramatically, ending in a catastrophic crash at 1:22 p.m.

Luiz Augusto De Oliveira, a local resident, recounted how the plane struck part of his property, narrowly missing him and his family. He described hearing a loud noise and then seeing the aircraft explode in his garage.

Investigation and Recovery Efforts

Voepass CEO Eduardo Busch mentioned that there is still no information on the exact cause of the crash. Busch assured that the flight crew was highly competent and that the airline is awaiting access to communications between the pilot and the control tower. The aircraft contained two black boxes, which have been recovered and sent to specialized laboratories for analysis.

The recovery efforts have so far yielded 24 bodies, with two victims preliminarily identified through visual recognition. The identification process is laborious due to the conditions of the bodies, which were still seated during the crash and were not ejected because the plane crashed flat onto the ground.

The recovery team is methodically working from the cockpit towards the tail, where the forensic work is complicated by fire damage. Families of victims are being asked to provide medical documentation, such as dental records, to assist in identification.

National Mourning and Initial Investigation Steps

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva interrupted a speech at an event to observe a minute of silence for the victims and later declared three days of mourning. Voepass has been assisting the victims’ families with accommodations and psychological support.

Local authorities in Vinhedo are awaiting the Brazil Air Force team to begin investigating the crash. Initial information suggests no emergency communication was made by the crew before the crash.

Flight experts note that ATR 72 aircraft, constructed by a European consortium, have had a history of incidents resulting in passenger deaths. ATR, the manufacturer, confirmed they are supporting the investigation fully.

Remarkably, some passengers missed the flight due to being at the wrong gate. One man recounted how he pressured airport staff to let him board, but was ultimately denied. He later expressed immense relief and gratitude for having missed the flight, acknowledging the fortunate turn of events that spared his life.

Watch the footage below: