The aircraft, an ATR 72-500 operated by the airline Voepass, was traveling from Cascavel in southern Parana state to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport when it crashed in the city of Vinhedo.
Images broadcast on local media showed a large plane nosediving at high speed, while other footage showed a large column of smoke rising from the crash site in what appeared to be a residential area.
“There were no survivors,” the city government in Valinhos — which was involved in the rescue and recovery operation in nearby Vinhedo — said in an email sent to AFP.
Vinhedo, with about 76,000 residents, is located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo.
The mayor of Cascavel, Leonardo Paranhos, confirmed the 62 deaths on social media, calling it a “tragedy for us all,” and said officials were offering services to the loved ones of those on board.
“The bodies are being taken to the morgue,” the Vinhedo city government told AFP.
Before an official death toll was given, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said during an event that it appeared there were no survivors, and called for a moment of silence for the victims.
“A plane just crashed in the city of Vinhedo in Sao Paulo, with 58 passengers and four crew members and it seems that everyone died,” Lula said in the middle of a speech in Itajai in Santa Catarina state.
In a statement, Voepass reported “an accident involving flight 2283.” “There is still no confirmation of how the accident occurred,” it said.
ATR, a Franco-Italian aircraft maker and Airbus subsidiary, said its experts were working to help investigators.
Author: Mujuni Henry
JUNIITV
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