Three days of mourning have been declared.
It was the deadliest plane crash since 2007 and it has shocked the country.
Vertical Descent
Video footage on social media shows the plane descending vertically.
It was spiralling and burning as it went and it landed in a residential area. Local authorities have said that there were no survivors.
Manufacturer Cooperating
It was made by ATR, the French-Italian plane manufacturer.
The company says that it is cooperating fully with the investigation into the crash. The plane is said to have been built in 2010 and was in good condition with all its safety certificates.
61 Dead
Despite the apparent safety of the plane, the crash killed all on board.
57 passengers and 4 crew members have died. The cause of the crash is as yet unknown, but it appears that the plane malfuntioned in the air. The black box has been retrieved.
Witnessed by Locals
The plane crash was witnessed by local people who said they were “terrified”.
One resident said that she heard a “very loud noise very close by” and then “I went out on the balcony and saw the plane spinning. Within seconds, I realised that it was not a normal movement for a plane.”
Small Plane
The plane was an ATR 72-500.
That is a twin-engine turboprop. It was travelling from Cascavel in the southern state of Paraná to Guarulhos airport in São Paulo city.
Small Town
The plane came down in the small town of Vinhedo.
Vinhedo is a town of around 85,000 people. Videos showed a large fire and smoking wreckage in the middle of a densely housed area.
President Lula
The crash happened while President Lula was speaking at an event.
He was informed and immediately asked everyone to stand for a minute of silence. “I have to be the bearer of very bad news” he said. Later, on social media he said “All my solidarity to the families and friends of the victims.”
No Townspeople Injured
Despite the fact that the plane landed in a residential area, no local residents were injured.
In an act of cooperation, the nearby town of Valinhos sent 20 emergency personnel to the crash site.
Two Doctors Killed
Two trainee doctors were killed in the crash.
They were from the Uopeccan Cancer Hospital in Cascavel.
