Submit your Article

Brazilian authorities worked Saturday to piece together what exactly caused the plane crash in Sao Paulo state the previous day that killed all 62 people on board.

Local airline Voepass’ plane, an ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop, was headed for Sao Paulo’s international airport in Guarulhos with 58 passengers and 4 crew members, when it went down in the city of Vinhedo.

Initially, the company said its plane had 62 passengers, then it revised the number to 61 and early on Saturday it raised the figure once again after it found a passenger named Constantino Thé Maia was not on its original list.

Images recorded by witnesses showed the aircraft in a flat spin and plunging vertically before smashing to the ground inside a gated community, and leaving an obliterated fuselage consumed by fire. Residents said there were no injuries on the ground.

Rain drizzled down on rescue workers as they recovered the first bodies from the scene in the chill of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. Some residents of the condominium silently left to spend the night elsewhere.

It was the world’s deadliest airline crash since Jan 2023, when 72 people died on board a Yeti Airlines plane in Nepal that stalled and crashed while making its landing approach. That plane also was an ATR 72, and the final report blamed pilot error.

A report Friday from Brazilian television network Globo’s meteorological center said it “confirmed the possibility of the formation of ice in the region of Vinhedo,” and local media cited experts pointing to icing as a potential cause for the crash.

An American Eagle ATR 72-200 crashed on 31 Oct 1994, and the United States National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause was ice buildup while the plane was circling in a holding pattern. The plane rolled at about 8,000 feet and dove into the ground, killing all 68 people on board. The US Federal Aviation Administration issued operating procedures for ATRs and similar planes, telling pilots not to use the autopilot in icing conditions.

But Brazilian aviation expert Lito Sousa cautioned that meteorological conditions alone might not be enough to explain why the plane fell in the manner that it did on Friday.

“Analyzing an air crash just with images can lead to wrong conclusions about the causes,” Sousa told the AP by phone. “But we can see a plane with loss of support, no horizontal speed. In this flat spin condition, there’s no way to reclaim control of the plane.”

Speaking to reporters Friday in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo Public Security Secretary Guilherme Derrite said the plane’s black box had been recovered, apparently in a preserved state.

Marcelo Moura, director of operations for Voepass, told reporters Friday night that, while there were forecasts for ice, they were within acceptable levels for the aircraft.

Likewise, Lt ColCarlos Henrique Baldi of the Brazilian air force’s center for the investigation and prevention of air accidents, told reporters in a late afternoon press conference that it was still too early to confirm whether ice caused the crash.

The plane is “certified in several countries to fly in severe icing conditions, including in countries unlike ours, where the impact of ice is more significant,” said Baldi, who heads the center’s investigation division.

In an earlier statement, the center said that the plane’s pilots did not call for help nor say they were operating under adverse weather conditions. There has been no evidence that the pilots tried to contact controllers of regional airports, either, Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho told reporters Friday night in Vinhedo.

Brazil’s Federal Police began its own investigation, and dispatched specialists in plane crashes and the identification of disaster victims, it said in a statement.

Sao Paulo state government said Saturday morning that 21 bodies had been retrieved from the scene, and two were already identified. Maycon Cristo, a spokesman for the local fire department, told journalists that a winch is being used to remove parts of the plane carcass from the ground.

“As we see a possible body in the middle of the destruction of the plane, rescue teams come in. Then they take pictures, gather as much evidence from the victim as they can so the identification can be the most accurate,” Cristo said.

French-Italian plane manufacturer ATR said in a statement that it had been informed that the accident involved its ATR 72-500 model, and that company specialists are “fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer.”

The ATR 72 is generally used on shorter flights. The planes are built by a joint venture of Airbus in France and Italy’s Leonardo SpA.

Crashes involving various models of the ATR 72 have resulted in 470 deaths going back to the 1990s, according to a database of the Aviation Safety Network.

Brazilian authorities began transferring the corpses to the morgue Friday, and called on victims’ family members to bring any medical, X-ray and dental exams to help identify the bodies. Blood tests were also done to help identification efforts.

Costa Filho, the airports minister, said the air force’s center will also conduct a criminal probe of the accident.

“We will investigate so this case is fully explained to the Brazilian people,” he said.

AP

At 21, I thought I had found the love of my life. We were inseparable, planning our future together. Then she met someone else and left me. I was devastated. The heartbreak was unbearable. I started having panic attacks and got depressed. I couldn’t eat or sleep, and the stress made me physically ill, leading to several hospital visits. My family tried to support me, but they didn’t fully understand my pain. Now she’s happy with him, and I’m trying to piece my life back together. I never expected to face such intense heartbreak at this age and I don’t know what to do.

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health

I know this pain can feel unbearable, and facing such a difficult challenge is truly hard. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It might seem impossible to move forward right now, but believe me, you can get through this grief. Healing takes time, and we will take it one step at a time.

When we’re emotionally bonded with someone, we share a lot of experiences and make plans for the future. This increases our emotional intimacy. When a relationship ends, it feels like a sudden loss, bringing about feelings of grief. This is a natural part of being attached to someone. Your relationship probably gave you a sense of security and belonging, so it’s normal to feel lost and disconnected when it ends.

Feeling left out can hurt our self-esteem and self-worth. You might feel betrayed or rejected, leading to an identity crisis. This is a normal process that many people go through. Developing new routines and behaviors can help. If things feel too difficult, it’s okay to reflect on them and seek professional support. If you’re already seeing a professional, keep going.

We need to experience all our emotions without judgment, whether it’s sadness, anger, or confusion. Acknowledge these feelings and go through them without judging yourself. Journaling can help—write down whatever comes to mind. This way, you can process your emotions rather than suppress them. Remember the good times, but also focus on self-help routines to create a new identity. Engage in activities you truly enjoy and try new things to rediscover who you are. If you’re going through an identity crisis, this can help build a stronger sense of self.

While creating a new identity, reflect on the present moment. Many things have changed, and with time and the right approach, the intense feelings will subside. You’ll become stronger and more resilient. Reflecting on your progress over time will help you see how far you’ve come.

Since you’re dealing with panic attacks and depression, talking to a therapist can be very helpful. Therapy can provide the emotional support you need and help you challenge negative thought patterns, rebuilding your self-esteem. It’s okay to seek therapy. Healing takes time, and it’s perfectly fine to take one thing at a time rather than overwhelming yourself. This experience can build resilience.

A regional turboprop plane carrying 62 people crashed near Sao Paulo in Brazil on Friday, killing all on board, local officials near the crash site said.

Video shared on social media showed what appeared to be the ATR-made plane spinning out of control as it plunged down behind a cluster of trees near houses, followed by a large plume of black smoke.

City officials at Valinhos, near Vinhedo, said there were no survivors and only one home in the local condominium complex had been damaged while none of the residents were hurt.

"I have to be the bearer of really bad news," said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaking at an event shortly after the crash. He asked for a minute of silence for the victims of the crash.

Airline Voepass said the plane, which had taken off from Cascavel, in the state of Parana, bound for Sao Paulo's main international airport, crashed in the town of Vinhedo, about 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo.

A plane with 62 people aboard crashed in a fiery wreck in a residential area of a city in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state Friday, the airline said, but it was not immediately clear how many people were injured or killed.

The airline Voepass confirmed in a statement that a plane headed for Sao Paulo’s international airport Guarulhos crashed in the city of Vinhedo with 58 passengers and 4 crew members aboard. The statement didn’t say what caused the accident.

At an event in southern Brazil, President Lula da Silva asked the crowd to stand and observe a minute of silence as he shared the news. He said that it appeared that all passengers and crew aboard had died, without elaborating as to how that information had been obtained.

AP

One hundred and seventy people have been killed in flooding and landslides triggered by incessant rains in various places of the country from June 10 till today afternoon.

The casualties include three in the Kathmandu Valley, 25 in Koshi Province, six in Madhes Province, 31 in Bagmati Province, 54 in Gandaki Province, 33 in Lumbini Province, eight in Karnali Province and 10 in Sudurpaschim Province.

So far, 203 people have been injured in the water-induced disasters. 

They include 11 persons from Kathmandu Valley, 37 from Koshi Province, 10 from Madhes Province, 19 from Bagmati Province, 46 from Gandaki Province, 13 from Lumbini Province, 53 from Karnali Province and 14 from Sudurpaschim Province.

Forty-eight people, including two in Koshi Province, 41 in Bagmati Province, two in Gandaki Province and one each in Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province, have gone missing in the landslide and flood incidents.

The Police Headquarters said search is underway for those missing in the disasters. 

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 500 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 148, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 146, 600 per tola on Thursday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 40 and is being traded at Rs 1,730 per tola today.

With the onset of the monsoon season, Damauli Hospital in Tanahun district has received a huge number of patients with fever and diarrhoea. 

The hospital authority shared that the number of fever and diarrhoea patients has sharply increased since last week.

Hospital's Information Officer Dr Kamal Bhandari said that some 350 to 400 patients of dengue, fever and diarrhoea visit the hospital on a daily basis for their treatment.

The dengue fever patients are also suggested to keep themselves safe from mosquito bites, Dr Bhandari said.

The recent Air Dynasty helicopter crash in Nuwakot, which claimed the lives of five individuals, including four Chinese nationals and a Nepali pilot, is a tragic reminder of the persistent safety issues plaguing Nepal’s aviation sector. This incident, coming just 15 days after the fatal Saurya Airlines crash in Kathmandu, underscores a concerning pattern that demands immediate and comprehensive action.

Nepal’s challenging topography, unpredictable weather, and the aging fleet of aircraft without proper maintenance are often cited as contributing factors to these accidents. However, these challenges, while significant, cannot fully explain the frequency of air crashes in the country. The problem runs deeper, pointing to systemic issues that include inadequate regulatory oversight, lapses in training and maintenance practices that do not meet international standards. Nepal’s airliners have been on the European Commission’s air safety blacklist since 2013 due to significant aviation security concerns. 

The government’s response to the latest crash, the formation of a three-member investigation commission, is a necessary step. However, past experiences have shown that such commissions often produce reports that either fail to identify the root causes or, worse, gather dust. What Nepal needs is a proactive and long-term approach to aviation safety.

There must be a culture of accountability and transparency within the aviation sector. The findings of investigation commissions should lead to concrete action. It is crucial to ensure that the lessons from each tragedy are learned and applied to prevent future occurrences.

The repeated tragedies call for the establishment of a robust, independent aviation safety authority that can enforce stringent regulations, ensure regular and rigorous training for pilots, and mandate the modernization of aircraft fleets. Additionally, there should be an emphasis on improving infrastructure, such as upgrading airport technologies and enhancing weather forecasting systems, to better support safe flights.

Nepal’s reputation as a tourist destination is at stake. Frequent air crashes not only result in tragic loss of life but also erode the confidence of both international and domestic travelers. The government must prioritize aviation safety as a matter of national importance, ensuring that the Nepali skies are safe, adding to the allure of majestic mountains that draw visitors from around the world. 

The lives lost in these tragedies should serve as a wake-up call. It’s time for decisive action, not another investigation report.