- Authorities are investigating a plane crash that killed 61 people.
Investigation Begins After Passenger Plane Crash in Brazil
Following the crash of a passenger plane with 61 fatalities in a residential area in Brazil, investigations into the cause of the accident have begun. "It's still very early," cautioned Marcelo Moreno, head of the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa), at a press conference. Environmental and technical factors, as well as possible human error, are being examined to determine how the plane crashed in the city of Vinhedo in the state of São Paulo. Moreno confirmed that the flight data recorder, or "black box," had been found by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which is crucial for the investigation.
Plane Crashes into Residential Area: No Injuries on Ground
The VoePass airline plane, carrying 57 passengers and 4 crew members, was traveling from the city of Cascavel in the state of Paraná to Guarulhos airport in São Paulo when it suddenly went into a spin and fell from the sky, as seen in social media images and videos. It plummeted nearly 4,000 meters in less than a minute, according to data from the Flightradar 24 platform. The plane crashed in a residential area near a house where people were present, but miraculously, no one on the ground was injured.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared a three-day national mourning period. The governor of São Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, promised all necessary support.
Flightradar 24 reported that meteorological data around the time of the accident suggests turbulence, thunderstorms, and icing in the area. VoePass CEO Eduardo Busch did not rule out the possibility of ice accumulation on the wings. However, he noted that the pilots were experienced and the plane was in working order at the time of takeoff. "The plane was 100% operational at the time of departure," Busch said.
One of the Deadliest Accidents in Brazilian Aviation History
This accident is reportedly one of the deadliest in Brazilian aviation history. Many remember the crash of November 28, 2016, when a plane carrying the Brazilian football club Chapecoense crashed on its way to Medellín, Colombia, for the Copa Sudamericana final. Seventy-one people died, including almost the entire team, staff, and accompanying journalists. Six passengers survived.
The plane that crashed on Friday was a turboprop passenger plane, an ATR 72, a shoulder-wing aircraft produced by the Franco-Italian consortium Avions de Transport Régional. In January 2023, an ATR 72-500 crashed while attempting to land at Pokhara airport in Nepal, killing all 72 on board, including four crew members.
The VoePass airline, which was involved in the tragic plane crash, is cooperating fully with the investigation processes led by Cenipa and the Brazilian Air Force. Despite the significant damage to the accused aircraft, the Flight Data Recorder, or 'black box,' was successfully retrieved and will provide valuable insights into the incident.
