Eight cancer doctors killed in Brazil plane crash; seven changed flights last minute

In a tragic incident, at least eight cancer specialists were among the 62 people killed in a plane crash in Vinhedo, Brazil, on Friday. The aircraft, an ATR 72 twin-engine plane operated by Voepass airlines, was en route to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport when it unexpectedly nosedived and crashed.

The plane was carrying 58 passengers, along with four crew members. Emergency services have confirmed that they recovered the remains of all 62 victims, including one individual who was initially unaccounted for.

Eduardo Baptistella from the Regional Medical Council stated that the deaths of the eight doctors traveling to attend an oncology conference had been confirmed. He described them as practitioners devoted to saving lives, highlighting the profound loss to the medical community.

Interestingly, out of a total of 15 doctors scheduled to fly to the conference, only eight were on board. The remaining seven had opted for an earlier flight. The Uopeccan Cancer Hospital in Cascavel announced that two of its trainee doctors were among those who perished in the accident.

The governor of Parana state, Ratinho Junior, confirmed the presence of at least eight physicians on the flight. Additionally, he noted that the fatalities included four professors from Unioeste University located in western Parana.

According to rescuers and local emergency teams, the bodies of the majority of the victims—34 males and 28 females—have been transported to a police morgue in São Paulo for identification.

Earlier during the recovery efforts, the remains of the pilot and co-pilot were identified, as reported by Dario Pacheco, the mayor of Vinhedo. Voepass officials shared that among the victims, there were four individuals holding dual citizenship: three Venezuelans and one from Portugal.

Firefighters at the site have initiated a thorough identification process for the victims, utilizing seat assignments, physical characteristics, and belongings such as mobile phones. This meticulous work aims to ensure that all victims are accurately identified.

Family members of those who lost their lives are being transported to São Paulo to provide DNA samples, as part of the identification process. Henguel Pereira, the state civil defense coordinator, emphasized the importance of these samples in confirming the identities of the victims.

Among the reported victims were a 4-year-old Venezuelan boy, his mother, and grandmother. They were reportedly headed to Colombia for a family visit. Notably, their dog was also on the flight, suggesting a deeply personal journey that ended in tragedy.

In the aftermath of the crash, investigators have begun analyzing the flight’s black box to determine the cause of the tragedy. Marcelo Moreno, head of the Brazilian aviation accident investigation center Cenipa, confirmed this during a press conference held in Vinhedo, pointing to a methodical approach in uncovering the circumstances leading to the accident.

This devastating event not only affects the families involved but also leaves a significant void in the medical community, especially as these dedicated doctors were heading to an important conference aimed at furthering their skills in oncology.