Plane carrying 61 people crashes after losing control mid-air

A plane carrying 61 people has crashed in Brazil.

The aircraft was flying from Cascavel, in Parana to Guarulhos, in Sao Paulo, under the airline Voepass.

According to flight tracking website, Flightradar24, the plane left Cascavel at 11.56 local time and gave its final signal around an hour and a half later.

The plane could be seen in the sky (X/GloboNews)

The airline has confirmed that 61 people were on board the flight, meanwhile Sao Paulo's fire brigade said that the aircraft crashed in a residential area of Vinhedo.

Emergency service teams rushed to the city, which is home to over 80,000 people.

Footage showing an area on fire and dark smoke coming from what looks to be an aircraft has been broadcast on Brazilian television network, GloboNews.

Meanwhile, footage on social media shows an aircraft descending at speed.

The plane could be seen descending at speed (X/GloboNews)

The plane is believed to have 58 passengers and four crew members on board.

It is not currently clear how many people have been injured in the incident, or if anybody was injured in Vinhedo.

However, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has said it 'appears' all the passengers on the flight have sadly died in the crash.

“I would like everyone to stand up so that we can observe a minute of silence because a plane has just crashed in the city of Vinhedo, in São Paulo, with 58 passengers and four crew members and it appears they all died,” he said, in a video shared on X, as per CNN.

Black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky (X/GloboNews)

The president did not elaborate on where the information had come from.

Meanwhile, a statement by Voepass said: "The aircraft took off from Cascavel-PR bound for Guarulhos Airport, with 58 passengers and four crew members on board. 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. The Company is providing support via telephone at 0800 9419712, available 24 hours a day, providing information to all its passengers, family members and employees."

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