The investigation into the tragic Voepass ATR-72-500 plane crash in Vinhedo, Brazil, which claimed 62 lives on August 9, 2024, is making progress with international collaboration. The French Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for Aviation Safety (BEA) has joined forces with the Brazilian Centre for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa) to determine the cause of the crash. Five French investigators, accompanied by technical advisors from Airbus, are now on site.As the investigation unfolds, experts are considering various factors that may have contributed to the crash. One primary suspicion is the accumulation of ice on the wings, which could have led to a loss of lift, causing the plane to enter a ‘death spiral’. Engineer Celso Faria de Souza stated, ‘Based on the video, I am almost certain that ice caused the accident’. However, Voepass has maintained that ice was expected at the altitude the plane was flying and should have been within acceptable levels.The recovery of the plane’s black boxes, containing voice recordings and flight data, is a crucial development in the investigation. Marcelo Moreno, head of Cenipa, confirmed, ‘We have succeeded 100 percent in obtaining the voice and data information that was recorded in the moments before this tragic event for society’. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.The identification process for the victims is ongoing. As of the latest update, 12 of the 62 victims have been identified, including the pilot, Danilo Santos Romano, and co-pilot, Humberto de Campos. The crash has particularly impacted the medical community, as a group of doctors heading to a cancer conference in São Paulo were among the victims.As the investigation continues, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has declared three days of national mourning. The tragedy has deeply affected the nation, with many drawing parallels to the 2007 crash that claimed 199 lives, making this incident one of the deadliest in Brazilian aviation history.
Key points
- French aviation experts have joined the Brazilian investigation team to determine the cause of the Voepass plane crash.
- Ice accumulation on the wings is being considered as a primary factor in the crash.
- The plane’s black boxes have been recovered and are being analyzed, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days.
- 12 of the 62 victims have been identified, including the pilot and co-pilot.
Contradictions👾While some experts strongly suspect ice accumulation as the cause of the crash, Voepass maintains that any ice present should have been within acceptable levels.
👾There are differing opinions on the cause, with some experts suggesting engine failure or pilot error as potential factors.
