Plane carrying 62 passengers crashes in huge explosion as chilling footage shows it dropping out of the sky
A PLANE in Brazil with 62 passengers has horrifically dropped out of the sky and crashed into the ground in a huge explosion.
Shocking footage showed the turboprop spiralling down to earth earlier today – with President Lula claiming all are dead.
The aircraft smashed into the ground in a residential area and explodes in a fireball, sending black smoke into the sky.
Footage shown by local media showed a fiery wreck on the ground with the destroyed fuselage burning.
Bodies could be seen lying amongst the debris, but it is not yet clear how many are dead.
A nearby house was also burning as a helicopter circled above.
Local news showed the fire had been extinguished by 7.30pm with firefighters working amidst the wreckage.
The tragedy happened in Sao Paulo state at about 1.25pm today after the plane took off at midday.
The Brazilian airline confirmed the crash in a statement to local media G1.
The statement from airline Voepass Linhas Aéreas confirmed the plane took off with 62 people on board.
Four of the people were reported to be crew, with 58 passengers.
Firefighters said the plane crashed in the city of Vinhedo, Sao Paulo state, but did not offer more details.
Flight 2283 reportedly took off from Cascavel in Parana state and was destined for Sao Paulo city’s main international airport Guarulhos.
The statement said: “Voepass has taken all measures to support those involved.
“There is still no confirmation of how the accident occurred or the current situation of the people on board.”
At an event in southern Brazil today, President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva asked the crowd to stand and observe a minute of silence.
He said that it appeared that all passengers and crew aboard had died, without elaborating as to how that information had been obtained.
Firefighters, military police and the civil defense authority dispatched teams to the crash site in Vinhedo.
Local media reported the type of plane was a turboprop ATR-72-500, made by French manufacturer ATR.
Over 1,200 of the planes have been built since 1988 when it entered service.
The plane typically has a seating capacity of 72 passengers.
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