News
SAD! 62 Bodies Recovered From Brazil Plane Crash Site
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Brazilian authorities successfully completed the recovery of all 62 bodies from the plane that tragically crashed on Friday
Investigators has began examining the aircraft’s black boxes to uncover the cause of the disaster.
Videos captured the ATR 72-500 aircraft in a terrifying downward spiral before it crashed into a residential area in Vinhedo, located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of São Paulo, Brazil’s financial hub.
Operated by the airline Voepass, the plane descended almost vertically, landing on its belly and bursting into flames with such force that it was nearly “flattened,” according to São Paulo fire lieutenant, Olivia Perroni Cazo.
“All 62 bodies (34 male and 28 female) have been recovered and transported to the morgue in São Paulo for identification and return to their families,” the regional government reported on Saturday evening.
Two victims have already been identified through fingerprint analysis, including the pilot and co-pilot, said Vinhedo Mayor Dario Pacheco.
The twin-engine turboprop, manufactured by aviation firm ATR, was on a flight from Cascavel in southern Paraná state to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport.
Experts from Brazil’s Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) have begun analyzing the black boxes recovered from the wreckage, which contain cabin conversations and in-flight data, said CENIPA chief Marcelo Moreno.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, according to the Brazilian Air Force.
Flight Radar 24 data indicated that the plane had been flying for about an hour at an altitude of 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) before it began losing altitude rapidly at 1:21 p.m. local time (1621 GMT). Radar contact was lost just a minute later at 1:22 p.m.
The air force noted that the crew did not declare an emergency, and weather conditions were not reported as a factor.
ATR, the aircraft’s manufacturer, which is a joint venture between Airbus and Italy’s Leonardo, stated that their experts would assist with the investigation.
The plane, which had been in service since 2010, met all current standards, and the four crew members were fully certified, according to Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency.
Voepass’s operations director, Marcel Moura, confirmed that the aircraft underwent routine maintenance the night before the accident and no technical issues were found.
However, some experts speculated that icing on the wings might have contributed to the crash. Moura noted that while the plane operated at an altitude where it could be more sensitive to icing, the conditions on Friday were “within acceptable parameters for a flight.”
The crash left the plane’s fuselage a charred, twisted heap of metal. Despite the devastation, there were no casualties on the ground.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy, one of the worst aviation accidents in the country’s history.
“It was horrible, horrible… such a sad tragedy,” said Lourdes da Silva Astolfo, 67, who lives just meters from the crash site.
According to AFP, she described feeling a “rumbling, almost like a tremor,” before seeing the plane nearly overhead.
Seconds later, it crashed, followed by stunned screams from neighbors as thick smoke billowed into the air.
The normally quiet, wooded neighborhood where the crash occurred saw a heavy presence of police, ambulances, and fire trucks on Saturday.
Voepass confirmed that all victims were traveling on Brazilian identity documents, including a dual citizen from Portugal and a family of three Venezuelans.
This incident marks Brazil’s most devastating air disaster in 17 years.
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has issued a six-week notice to unregistered businesses to register with the Commission.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the CAC on Tuesday, titled: “PUBLIC NOTICE: CARRYING ON BUSINESS IN NIGERIA UNDER AN UNREGISTERED NAME OR ACRONYM.”
In the statement, the CAC said failure to comply with the notice will attract a jail term or prosecution.
The commission informed the general public that it is a criminal offence under Section 863 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, to carry on business in Nigeria as a company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, or under a business name without registration. It is also an offence to operate under a name (or acronym) other than the one registered under the Act.
The public was further advised that Section 729 of the Act requires every registered company to display its registered name and registration number at every business location.
“In addition, the company is required to state its registered name and registration number on all its official publications, including letterheads, signage, marketing, and publicity materials,” the statement added.
The CAC emphasised that non-compliance with business registration requirements may result in prosecution and a conviction that carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment.
The statement continued: “In particular, the general public should note the provisions of Section 862 (1) of the Act, which state that any person who, in any document required under the Act (including the aforementioned official publications of a company), knowingly makes a false statement in any material respect commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of two years, in addition to a daily fine imposed on the company for every day the offence continues.”
In light of the above, the CAC stressed that all companies, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and business name proprietors must comply with the provisions of the Act within six weeks of this notice.
Failure to comply will result in enforcement actions, including prosecution, the CAC stressed.
The Federal Government has declared Thursday, May 1, 2025, as a public holiday in commemoration of Workers’ Day.
This was announced in a press statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Aishetu Ndayako, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, conveyed the declaration, emphasising the importance of excellence, efficiency, and fairness in labour.
Tunji-Ojo reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s dedication to fostering innovation, productivity, and inclusivity in workplaces.
The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has appointed 168 political aides, saying that the move was to “strengthen” the government machinery.
The Governor’s Media Adviser, Mukhtar Gidado, in a statement Tuesday morning, said that the appointments are spread across principal special assistants, senior special assistants, special assistants, and personal assistants.
Five of the appointees are principal special assistants on political and community relations, one principal special assistant on pension matters, 60 are special assistants on political and community relations, one senior special assistant on labour matters, 38 special assistants on political and community relations, and 63 personal assistants (PA) on political and community relations.
Gidado said that the appointments are part of the Governor’s ongoing efforts to ensure greater inclusion, enhance service delivery, and foster a government that reflects the diverse interests and aspirations of the people of Bauchi State.
“The newly appointed aides, who are largely former political office holders at the national, state, and local government levels, were selected based on merit, proven experience, and political background, as well as leadership capabilities, and are expected to inject fresh energy into the administration and support the Governor’s vision of a more responsive and effective government.
“Governor Bala Mohammed congratulates the appointees and urges them to see their appointments as a call to greater service. He emphasizes the need for dedication, loyalty, and a people-centered approach to governance as the administration intensifies efforts to deliver more democratic dividends to the good people of Bauchi State,” he said.
According to Gidado, Mohammed is confident that with the new appointments, the administration would be better positioned to consolidate on its achievements and build a legacy of good governance, inclusivity, and sustainable development.
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