Sao Paolo: A regional turboprop aircraft tragically crashed in a residential neighborhood near Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, resulting in the death of all 61 individuals on board. The plane, operated by regional carrier Voepass, was en route from Cascavel, Parana, to Sao Paulo’s international airport when it went down around 1:30 p.m. local time (1630 GMT) in Vinhedo, approximately 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo.
Social media footage captured the ATR-72 aircraft spinning uncontrollably before crashing behind a cluster of trees and homes, followed by a large plume of black smoke. Nearby resident Daniel de Lima described witnessing the plane in a horizontal spiral before it fell from the sky and exploded.
City officials from Valinhos, near Vinhedo, reported that a home in a local condominium complex was damaged when the plane crashed into its backyard, though no residents were injured. De Lima speculated that the pilot may have attempted to avoid a densely populated area.
The unusual final maneuvers of the aircraft have intrigued aviation experts, leading to various theories about the cause of the crash. While some have suggested that ice buildup or engine failure might have contributed, investigators have indicated that it is too early to draw conclusions. Voepass Chief Operations Officer Marcel Moura noted that although ice was predicted, it was within acceptable limits and the plane’s de-icing system was operational before takeoff.
Brazilian aviation engineer Celso Faria de Souza proposed that ice buildup could have led to a stall and the subsequent spiral. Historical data on ATR-72 crashes, including incidents in Indiana in 1994 and Norway in 2016, suggests that ice can affect aircraft performance. Another ATR-72 crash in Nepal in 2023 was attributed to pilot error.
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The Brazilian aviation accident investigation center Cenipa has recovered the aircraft’s black box, which contains critical voice and flight data. U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse and former pilot John Cox emphasized the need to examine weather conditions, engine functionality, and control systems, noting significant gyrations in speed before the crash.
Cenipa head Marcelo Moreno reported that initial findings indicated the aircraft did not communicate an emergency to traffic control. Voepass initially reported 62 people aboard, but later confirmed there were 57 passengers and four crew members, all holding Brazilian documents. Some passengers were doctors from Parana heading to a seminar, as noted by Governor Ratinho Junior.
Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR and its partners Airbus and Leonardo are actively participating in the investigation. The plane’s engine, a PW 127 produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada, is also under scrutiny. French and Canadian investigators, along with Europe’s safety regulator, are contributing to the investigation.
This crash is Brazil’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2007, when a TAM flight, now part of LATAM Airlines, crashed, killing 199 people.
