A plane crash resulted in the tragic death of more than 200 people, earlier today at Sao Paulo¢s Congonhas airport. The TAM airlines, Airbus 320, carrying 176 people crashed, when the pilot attempted to land in wet airway. The plane veered, entered into a busy road and crashed into a deposit, used by TAM for storing cargo and fuel. In a few seconds, the plane exploded.
Witnesses testified that the plane slid across a road in the center of the city at rush hour and struck against a deposit. However, the latter has not been officially confirmed. It is certain though that the fire that broke out was massive. An eyewitness, TAM employee Elias Rodrigues Jesus, said the plane exploded after slamming into the depot. "All of a sudden I heard a loud explosion, and the ground beneath my feet shook," he told the Associated Press news agency.
The fire fighters who came into the scene to extinguish the fire said that at least 50 rescue vehicles participated in the fight against the fire. The fire continued to burn all night and finally burned out four hours after the crash.
TAM Express flight 3054 was carrying 176 people, out of which 170 were passengers and 6 crew members. The plane was travelling from Porto Alegre to Sao Paulo¢s Conhonas airport.
Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared three days of national mourning for the victims.