61 people confirmed dead after plane crash in Brazil

Footage from people on the ground shows the aircraft free falling from the sky.

Brazilian media have described the event as the deadliest plane crash in Brazil since 2007 when a TAM plane burst into flames, killing 199 people.

BREAKING: Voepass Flight 2283, a large passenger plane, crashes in Vinhedo, Brazil pic.twitter.com/wmpJLVYbB3

— BNO News (@BNONews) August 9, 2024

Footage captured by pedestrians in the town of Vinhedo, close to the crash site, shows the aircraft spinning in the air before falling to the ground.

The flight was operated by Brazilian airline Voepass and was heading from Cascavel in the southern state of Paraná to the main airport in São Paulo city.

The four crew members and 57 passengers are all believed to have died on impact.

Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Henrique Baldi, of the Brazilian air force's centre for the investigation and prevention of air accidents, said that the twin-engine turboprop plane was in 'good operating condition' with 'valid registration and certificates'.

Its crew were also licensed and had valid qualifications.

The Brazilian Air Force says the flight was "normal" until 13:20 (17:20 BST), and then it lost contact with air traffic control a minute later.

They added that the the plane 'did not declare an emergency' before crashing.

One man who arrived late at the airport and missed the tragic flight credited a member of staff at Cascavel airport with 'saving his life'.

Adriano Assis told Brazilian news agency Globo that there was a lack of information on take-off and nobody at the counter to answer questions when he arrived at the airport.

When someone did arrive, they told him he couldn’t board yet.

“I even argued with him, but he ended up saving my life,” he said.

Voepass have not yet provided any information as to what caused the incident.