Plane crashes in huge explosion leaving 61 dead as chilling footage shows it dropping out of the sky

A PLANE has crashed in Brazil killing all 61 on board after it horrifically dropped out of the sky and fell to the ground.

Shocking footage showed the aircraft spiralling down to earth earlier today before it exploded in a huge fireball next to a house.

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The plane smashed into the ground in a residential area of the city of Vinhedo, Sao Paulo state, with locals filming it dropping and crashing.

Locals approached the fiery wreck on the ground and captured the destroyed fuselage burning.

Bodies could be seen lying amongst the debris, but it is not yet clear what the cause of the crash is.

The nearby house was also burning as a helicopter circled above.

Local news showed the fire had been extinguished by 7.30pm UK time, 2.30pm EST with firefighters working amidst the smoking wreckage.

The tragedy happened in Sao Paulo state at about 1.25pm today Brazilian time after the plane took off at midday.

Valinhos City Hall has confirmed all on board are dead and that no residents on the ground were injured or killed.

The Brazilian airline which operated the flight confirmed the crash in a statement to local media G1.

The statement from airline Voepass Linhas Aéreas confirmed the plane took off with 61 people on board.

Four of the people were reported to be crew, with 57 passengers.

Initial reports said 62 people had died, after 58 passengers were believed to have been on the flight.

“The company regrets to inform that all 61 people on board flight 2283 died at the site,” Voepass said in a statement.

“At this time, Voepass is prioritizing provision of unrestricted assistance to the victims families and effectively collaborating with authorities to determine the causes of the accident.”

Flight 2283 took off from Cascavel, Parana state, and was destined for Sao Paulo city’s main international airport – Guarulhos.

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The statement from the airline 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.

Flight tracking site Flightradar24 said this particular plane was a 14-year-old model built in 2010.

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.

Brazilian Federal Police and the country’s aviation authority have opened investigations into the crash.

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