On Friday afternoon, a VoePass Airlines ATR-72, carrying 58 passengers and four crew members, crashed into a residential area, resulting in no survivors. The devastating incident has shocked the nation and left the community grappling with immense loss.
The Final Moments
A harrowing picture of the plane’s final moments has emerged from flight tracking data. The VoePass Airlines ATR-72, en route from Cascavel to São Paulo, was cruising at 17,000 feet when it began an inexplicable series of altitude changes.
In the minute and a half before the crash, the plane experienced sudden drops and climbs. A particularly alarming descent of nearly 2,000 feet occurred just eight seconds before a catastrophic, near-vertical plunge to the ground. The last recorded data point was at 1:22 PM local time.
Heart-wrenching videos from the scene corroborate the data, showing the aircraft spiraling out of control before impact. The resulting devastation is immense, with emergency responders working tirelessly to contain fires and recover victims.
National Mourning Declared in Brazil
In response to the tragedy, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed profound condolences and announced a three-day period of national mourning. The declaration reflects the nation’s collective grief and sympathy for the victims’ families. As Brazil comes to terms with this significant loss, support and solidarity are being extended to those affected.
Ongoing Investigation into the Plane Crash
A detailed investigation is underway to uncover the cause of the crash. Aviation authorities, along with expert investigators, are examining the wreckage, reviewing air traffic control recordings, and analyzing weather conditions and the aircraft’s maintenance history. The black boxes will be crucial in determining the sequence of events leading up to the disaster.
Impact on the Vinhedo Community
The crash has caused substantial damage to homes in Vinhedo, displacing many residents and leaving them traumatized. The community is reeling from the impact, with local residents and authorities coming together to support those affected. The scale of the destruction and the emotional toll on the community are significant, highlighting the need for ongoing support and assistance.
Support Services and Relief Efforts
Firefighters, military police, and the country’s civil defence authority have despatched workers to the site of the crash. Psychologists and counselors are providing essential emotional support to those coping with the tragedy. As Brazil mourns, efforts are focused on offering aid and comfort to the affected families and ensuring that they receive the assistance they need during this difficult time.
2024 Commercial Airplane Crashes (Up-to-date):
January:
The 2024 Haneda Airport runway collision involved Japan Airlines Flight 516, an Airbus A350 from New Chitose Airport, colliding with a Japan Coast Guard De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft during landing. While all 379 occupants of the Japan Airlines flight were evacuated safely, tragically, five of the six occupants aboard the Coast Guard aircraft lost their lives. Both aircraft were destroyed in the incident, marking the first hull loss of an Airbus A350. The destroyed DHC-8 was set to provide support in response to the Noto earthquake the previous day.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 departing from Portland International Airport, experienced uncontrolled decompression when a plug covering an unused exit door blew out. Despite the harrowing incident, the aircraft made a safe return to Portland with all 177 passengers and crew surviving. Fortunately, nobody was seated next to the blown-out door plug, and only three injuries were reported onboard. Various belongings, including an iPhone, fell from the aircraft, with the owner later reclaiming their undamaged phone.
A Jetways Airlines Fokker 50 crashed during a humanitarian aid flight from Mogadishu to Ceel Barde, Somalia. The aircraft ran off the runway upon arrival at its destination, striking a house and resulting in the loss of one of the four occupants.
A Northwestern Air British Aerospace Jetstream crashed shortly after takeoff while transporting mine workers from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, to the Diavik Diamond Mine in Northwest Territories, Canada. Tragically, six of the seven passengers and crew lost their lives as the aircraft made impact with the ground 500 meters (1600 feet) from the end of the runway.
February:
Air Serbia Flight 324, operated by Marathon Airlines using an Embraer 195, hit the landing lights during takeoff at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. The aircraft continued to fly for another hour before making an emergency landing back at the same airport, despite sustaining a large hole in its fuselage. Remarkably, all 111 occupants on board survived without injury.
March:
In the 2024 Nairobi mid-air collision, Safarilink Aviation Flight 53, a De Havilland Canada Dash 8, collided with a Cessna 172. The collision resulted in the Cessna 172 crashing and killing both of its occupants, while the Dash 8 managed to land safely.
LATAM Airlines Flight 800, a Boeing 787-9 traveling from Sydney to Auckland, experienced an in-flight upset that resulted in injuries to 50 passengers. Despite the incident, the flight landed safely at Auckland Airport.
In the 2024 Malakal Airport collision, a Safe Air Company Boeing 727-200 on a cargo flight from Juba Airport undershot the runway and collided with an MD-82 while attempting to land at Malakal Airport, South Sudan. All seven crew members on board survived, with one sustaining injuries.
May:
During Singapore Airlines Flight 321 from London-Heathrow to Singapore, carrying 229 people, the Boeing 777-300ER encountered severe turbulence, resulting in one passenger’s death and injuring 30 others. The plane made an emergency landing in Bangkok.
July:
Gazpromavia Flight 9608, a Sukhoi Superjet 100, was on a ferry flight from Lukhovitsy to Moscow when it crashed during an emergency landing attempt near Moscow. Tragically, all three crew members lost their lives in the accident.
A Saurya Airlines Bombardier CRJ-200ER crashed shortly after departing from Kathmandu Tribhuvan Airport on its way to Pokhara International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 18 of the 19 people on board.
August:
A VoePass Airlines ATR-72, carrying 58 passengers and four crew members, met with a tragic fate on Friday afternoon when it crashed into a residential area in Vinhedo, São Paulo state. Tragically, there were no survivors among the 62 people on board.