Browne: No reports of Trinidad and Tobago nationals in plane crash

MINISTER of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne, in a brief WhatsApp message to Newsday, expressed deep sadness over the August 9 plane crash in Vinhedo, a city in São Paulo state, Brazil, which resulted in the deaths of 62 people.

"I have conveyed immediate sentiments of sympathy and solidarity to the Brazilian government," Browne said.

He said his ministry had not received any reports of TT nationals being on board Flight 2283, which had taken off from Cascavel, Brazil, and crashed 450 miles from its destination. The plane was an ATR-72.

"We continue to monitor and follow developments in co-ordination with our embassy team in Brasilia."

In a briefing on Friday afternoon, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for a minute of silence for the 58 passengers and four crew members who died.

Newsday tried contacting Dionne Ligoure, head of corporate communications at Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL), as the company also has a fleet of ATR aircraft.

A July 2023 release said the company had nine ATR-72s. The release also noted CAL's intention of expanding into the Eastern Caribbean on July 24 last year with new non-stop services between Barbados and St Vincent, as well as St Lucia. Additionally, it increased capacity to Dominica and Grenada.

A statement from plane manufacturer ATR on August 9 said, "ATR has been informed that an accident occurred in Vinhedo, Brazil involving an ATR 72-500.

"Our first thoughts are with all the individuals affected by this event. The ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer."