A tragic plane crash in Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil, has resulted in the loss of all 61 individuals on board, comprising 57 passengers and four crew members.

The aircraft, operated by Voepass, was traveling from Cascavel in the southern state of Paraná to Guarulhos airport in São Paulo city when it went down in a residential area.

Eyewitnesses described the plane descending at a steep angle before crashing, leading to a catastrophic impact that left the aircraft engulfed in flames.

This incident marks Brazil’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2007, when a TAM Express flight crashed at São Paulo’s Congonhas airport, resulting in the loss of 199 lives.

Local authorities confirmed that there were no survivors from the flight, which had taken off at 11:56 AM local time. The last signal from the plane was received approximately an hour and a half later, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Brazil’s civil aviation agency reported that the aircraft, built in 2010, was in good operating condition, with valid registration and airworthiness certificates. Furthermore, the four crew members were fully licensed and qualified, making the incident even more shocking.

In response to the tragedy, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his deep sorrow and solidarity with the victims’ families and friends. At a public event, he called for a moment of silence to honor those lost, describing the news as “very sad.”

Additionally, São Paulo’s state Governor, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, declared three days of mourning to reflect the gravity of the situation. The Uopeccan Cancer Hospital in Cascavel reported that two of its trainee doctors were among the deceased passengers.

Eyewitness accounts revealed the harrowing experiences of those who witnessed the crash. Local resident Felipe Magalhaes described hearing the sound of the plane falling and seeing it crash from his window, which left him terrified. Another resident, Nathalie Cicari, recalled hearing a loud noise similar to a drone but much more intense, prompting her to rush to the balcony just in time to see the aircraft spinning uncontrollably before it went down.

Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, with the nearby town of Valinhos dispatching 20 personnel to assist in recovery efforts. Despite the destruction caused by the crash, no injuries were reported among those on the ground.

The aircraft’s flight recorders have been recovered, and ATR, the manufacturer of the plane, has pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.