A tragic plane crash occurred in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on August 9, 2024, with a passenger plane carrying 62 people. The aircraft, an ATR-72 turboprop, was bound for Sao Paulo from Cascavel, in the state of Parana, and crashed around 1:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) in Vinhedo, some 80 km northwest of Sao Paulo. The crash resulted in no survivors, as confirmed by the governor of Sao Paulo.
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The plane was operated by Voepass, a Brazilian airline. Initially, the company reported that there were 62 passengers on board, but later revised the number to 61. On Saturday, the company further revised the figure, adding a passenger named Constantino Thé Maia, who was not on the original list. Brazilian rescue teams worked tirelessly to recover the bodies of all 62 passengers from the wreckage. The recovery process was completed on Saturday, with the identification of the bodies of the pilot and co-pilot by forensics experts. The bodies were transferred to the morgue, and families were called upon to provide medical, X-ray, and dental exams to aid in the identification process.
The crash site was a scene of devastation, with social media videos showing the plane falling from the sky. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with the Brazilian Air Force's Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Air Accidents sending a team to the site. There is speculation that ice buildup could have been a factor, similar to the American Eagle ATR 72-200 crash on Oct. 31, 1994, which was attributed to ice accumulation.
The incident has left the nation in mourning, with families gathering in Sao Paulo to identify and bury their loved ones. The tragedy has highlighted the risks of air travel and the importance of thorough investigations to prevent similar incidents in the future.