The catastrophic plane crash in the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil, which took the lives of all 61 on board, is currently being scrutinized by Brazilian authorities. The ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop operated by local firm Voepass was en route to Guarulhos international airport, Sao Paulo with 57 passengers and four crew members when it tragically crashed in Vinhedo city on Friday.
Recorded footage unveiled the aircraft spiralling out of control and plummeting straight downward before violently hitting the ground within a secured residential area. The scene was one of utter destruction with the aircraft wreckage engulfed in flames. However, no ground casualties were reported.
Against the backdrop of the winter chill, rescue personnel began the grim task of body recovery in the rain. This horrific accident has been recorded as the deadliest air disaster since January 2023. Back then, 72 people lost their lives in a Yeti Airlines plane crash in Nepal, owing to a botched approach for landing. Incidentally, that aircraft was also an ATR 72, with the final report attributing the accident to pilot error.
Brazil’s Globo TV network’s weather desk confirmed the potential for ice formation in the Vinhedo region. Citing this report, regional media hinted at icing as a plausible factor behind the plane crash. Notably, on 31st October 1994, an American Eagle ATR 72-200 suffered a similar fate attributed to ice accumulation while maintaining prolonged circular flight. The crash killed all 68 individuals on board. Following that incident, the US Federal Aviation Administration released operating guidelines warning pilots of ATR and similar aircraft against autopilot operation under icy conditions.
However, Lito Sousa, a seasoned Brazilian aviation specialist, warned against solely attributing the recent crash to meteorological factors. He cautioned about potential misinterpretations stemming from a one-sided analysis based purely on visuals.
“We observe an aircraft lacking control, devoid of horizontal momentum. In such a flat spin scenario, reestablishing command over the plane is impossible,” was revealed. The black box of the plane, recovered seemingly undamaged, was also confirmed by Guilherme Derrite, the public security secretary of Sao Paulo.
The Director of Operations at Voepass, Marcelo Moura, addressed the press on Friday night, clarifying that despite potential icing conditions, they were deemed safe for the aircraft in question.
Commencing its independent enquiry, Brazil’s Federal Police have deployed experts specialised in aircraft accidents and the recognition of disaster casualties, as per their statement.
Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR, confirmed in a statement that the accident involved their ATR 72-500 model and stated that the company’s specialists are on the job to provide support to both the investigation and the customer.
ATR 72, typically used for short-haul flights, is a product of collaboration between France’s Airbus and Leonardo SpA from Italy.
As per the Aviation Safety Network’s database, the various ATR 72 models have resulted in 470 fatalities since the 1990s. – AP