More than 40 families of victims of an airliner crash in Brazil gathered in Sao Paulo as three French government investigators arrived in the country to assist in identifying the remains of the 62 people killed. The Sao Paulo state government reported that all the victims’ remains had been recovered, with forensic experts working to identify them. The plane, operated by Brazilian airline Voepass, crashed in Vinhedo, north of the city, with 58 passengers and four crew members on board. The bodies of the pilot and co-pilot were the first to be identified, with additional victims being identified since then.
The French investigators from BEA, the European country’s body for civil aviation security, were involved in the inquiry due to the ATR aircraft being a French-Italian company. The morgue in Sao Paulo began receiving the bodies for identification, with families asked to provide medical records for assistance in the process. The crash, which left no injuries on the ground, was the deadliest since a similar incident in Nepal in 2023. Reports of severe icing in Sao Paulo state at the time of the crash raised concerns about the potential cause of the accident.
A video shared on social media showed a Voepass pilot addressing passengers on a flight, expressing sorrow for the tragedy and asking for prayers. The Sao Paulo state government confirmed that families of the victims were arriving at the morgue for identification, with more expected to follow. The tragic incident has deeply impacted families and the community, with authorities working to support those affected by the crash. The aircraft descended to about 8,000 feet (2,500 meters) and crashed into the ground, tragically resulting in the loss of all 68 individuals on board. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has implemented new operating procedures for ATRs and similar aircraft, advising pilots against using the autopilot in icing conditions.
Brazilian aviation expert Lito Sousa emphasized that the meteorological conditions alone may not fully explain the circumstances surrounding the Voepass plane crash on Friday. Sousa cautioned against drawing premature conclusions based solely on images, stating that the aircraft appeared to have lost stability and horizontal speed, making it impossible to regain control in such a flat spin condition.
Regarding the possibility of passengers losing consciousness during the plane’s rapid descent, Sousa suggested that while it is possible, it may not be the most likely scenario. The Brazilian air force confirmed that the flight recorders have been analyzed, and the results of the investigation are expected to be released within 30 days.
Voepass’s director of operations, Marcelo Moura, mentioned that although there were forecasts for ice, they were deemed manageable for the aircraft. The Brazilian air force’s center for investigating air accidents revealed that the pilots did not request assistance or report adverse weather conditions before the crash.
The ATR 72, manufactured by a collaboration between Airbus and Leonardo SpA, is commonly used for short-haul flights. Tragically, crashes involving various models of the ATR 72 have resulted in 470 fatalities since the 1990s.
During a public mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis called for prayers for the victims of the air crash.
By Mauricio Savarese and Tatiana Pollastri.
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