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A plane crashed in Sao Paulo state, Brazil, killing all 61 people on board.
Walpass Airlines said the twin-engine turboprop plane was flying from Cascavel in the southern state of Parana to Sao Paulo city’s main airport when it crashed in the town of Vinhedo.
Videos circulating on social media showed a plane plummeting and spiraling as it fell.
The plane was carrying 57 passengers and four crew members. The local government said no one on board survived.
The airline initially said there were 58 passengers but later revised the figure.
Authorities said the plane landed in a residential area but no one on the ground was injured.
They said only one home in a local apartment complex was damaged and no residents were injured.
Brazil’s Globonews television network showed images of widespread fires and smoking wreckage in areas lined with houses.
Police and fire departments are on scene and local hospitals have been alerted.
The plane, built in 2010, left Cascavel at 11:56 local time (14:56 GMT), according to tracking website Flightradar24. The last signal from the plane was about an hour and a half later.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke at an event to express his condolences to the victims.
He told the audience: “I have to bring very bad news and I want everyone to stand and let’s have a minute’s silence.”
He posted news of the crash on social media, saying it was “very sad. My deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.”
The local government said the nearby town of Valinhos had sent 20 rescue workers to the crash site as part of a joint operation.
“We deployed 20 personnel, including three vehicles of the Valinhos Civil Guard and one vehicle of the Civil Protection Forces,” Valinhos City Hall said in a statement.
Sao Paulo State Governor Tarcisio de Freitas also went to the scene.
The aircraft manufacturer ATR said in a statement that it had been informed of an accident involving an ATR 72-500 aircraft.
“Our first thoughts are with all those affected by this incident. ATR experts will fully support the investigation and customers,” the Franco-Italian planemaker said. (BBC News)
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