Brazil has been shaken by an air traffic tragedy: an ATR 72-500 belonging to the airline VoePass crashed in the state of São Paulo on Friday, August 2, 2024. All 61 people on board survived the accident. While the country mourns the victims, investigations have begun to determine the cause of the crash. The incident joins the list of the worst air accidents in the history of Brazilian aviation and raises urgent questions about civil aviation safety.
The accident occurred in the city of Vinhedo, about 75 kilometers from the metropolis of São Paulo. The ATR 72-500 was en route as flight 2Z2283 from Cascavel in the state of Paraná to São Paulo-Guarulhos, Brazil’s largest airport. According to data from the « Flightradar 24 » platform, the plane took off shortly before the crash, losing altitude sharply within a few seconds and plummeting by a rapid 4,000 meters. Eyewitness reports and videos posted on social networks show the plane going into a spin before crashing into a residential area and bursting into flames. Thick smoke rose from the wreckage as rescue workers desperately tried to reach the remains of the plane.
Initial investigations and possible causes
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has recovered the flight data recorder and the voice recorder, the so-called « black boxes », from the wreckage. These devices are central to the investigation as they provide precise information about the last minutes of the flight and the conversations in the cockpit. However, the investigation into the cause of the crash is only just beginning. Marcelo Moreno, the head of the Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aviation Accidents (Cenipa), stressed that all possible factors – from technical and environmental influences to human error – are being examined.
According to meteorological reports, the weather may have played a role in the accident. Turbulence, thunderstorms and icing conditions were reported in the area at the time of the crash. VoePass CEO Eduardo Busch explained that icing on the wings could be a possible cause. Such icing can significantly reduce the lift of an aircraft and lead to loss of control. Busch stressed, however, that the pilots were experienced and the aircraft took off in perfect condition.
The crash has caused great shock in Brazil. The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and promised to provide all necessary resources to investigate the accident. The airline VoePass, which deeply regrets the accident, also announced comprehensive support for the families of the victims.
Historical context and comparison
The crash of the ATR 72-500 of VoePass is one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Brazilian history. It is a painful reminder of another devastating accident that has shaken the country in the past. In November 2016, for example, the plane carrying the Chapecoense football team took off on its way to the final of the Copa Sudamericana in Colombia, killing 71 people. In January 2023, the first accident occurred in which the ATR 72-500 crashed in Nepal and 72 people died.
These incidents underline the dangers that exist in air travel despite all the advances in technology and safety measures. The fact that the aircraft involved in the accident is the same model as the one involved in the Nepal accident draws renewed attention to the safety standards and operating conditions of the ATR 72-500. The coming weeks and months will be crucial to clarify whether systemic problems or special circumstances led to this tragic event.
While Brazil mourns the victims, the aviation industry is turning its attention to the results of the investigation. These are not only of benefit to the bereaved, but also to international air traffic safety. The results of the analysis of the flight recorders could provide information on whether new safety measures are necessary to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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