Brazilian authorities are investigating a tragic plane crash in São Paulo state that occurred on Friday, resulting in the deaths of all 61 people on board. The aircraft, an ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop operated by the local airline Voepass, was en route to São Paulo's international airport in Guarulhos with 57 passengers and 4 crew members when it crashed in the city of Vinhedo.
Witnesses captured footage of the plane in a flat spin, descending vertically before crashing inside a gated community and erupting in flames. Fortunately, no injuries were reported on the ground. As rescue workers began recovering bodies amid light rain, some residents of the area chose to leave their homes for the night.
This incident marks the deadliest airline crash worldwide since January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines plane in Nepal crashed, killing 72 people. That aircraft was also an ATR 72, and the final report cited pilot error as the cause.
Initial reports from Brazil's Globo network indicated possible icing conditions in Vinhedo, with experts suggesting ice buildup could have contributed to the crash. This is reminiscent of past accidents involving ATR 72 planes, such as a 1994 crash in the United States attributed to ice accumulation.
However, Brazilian aviation expert Lito Sousa cautioned against drawing conclusions solely from images, emphasizing the complexity of air crash investigations. "We can see a plane with loss of support, no horizontal speed. In this flat spin condition, there’s no way to reclaim control of the plane," Sousa stated.
The plane's black box has been recovered in good condition, according to São Paulo Public Security Secretary Guilherme Derrite. Voepass' Director of Operations, Marcelo Moura, acknowledged the forecasted icing conditions but stated they were within acceptable levels for the aircraft.
Lt. Col. Carlos Henrique Baldi, head of the Brazilian air force's investigation division, confirmed that the plane is certified to fly in severe icing conditions, emphasizing that it is too early to determine the exact cause of the crash. The pilots did not report any adverse weather conditions or contact regional airport controllers before the crash, as noted by Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho.
The Brazilian Federal Police have launched their investigation, sending specialists in plane crashes and disaster victim identification. Meanwhile, ATR, the French-Italian manufacturer of the ATR 72, has stated that its specialists are actively supporting the investigation.
The ATR 72, typically used for short flights, is built by a joint venture between Airbus in France and Italy’s Leonardo S.p.A. Since the 1990s, various ATR 72 models have been involved in crashes resulting in 470 fatalities, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
Videos shared on social media show the ATR-72 aircraft spiraling out of control before crashing near a residential area, generating significant interest among aviation experts. Some speculate that ice buildup or engine failure might have played a role, although the investigation is ongoing.
U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse highlighted the importance of examining weather conditions and the functionality of the plane's engines and controls. Flight data indicated unusual speed fluctuations before the crash, suggesting a "catastrophic event" prior to the loss of control.
Voepass initially reported 62 people on board but later confirmed 57 passengers and four crew members. The passengers included doctors traveling to a seminar in Paraná, as mentioned by Governor Ratinho Junior.
ATR and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada, part of RTX Corp, have offered assistance in the investigation. French, Canadian, and European investigators are also participating.
This crash is Brazil's deadliest aviation disaster since 2007 when 199 people died in a TAM Airlines flight, which later became part of LATAM Airlines.