A VoePass Linhas Aéreas ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft crashed near São Paulo, Brazil on Friday, August 9, 2024, resulting in the death of all 61 people on board. The aircraft, operating as flight 2Z-2283 from Cascavel to São Paulo Guarulhos, went down in a residential area approximately 40 nautical miles northwest of its destination.
According to The Aviation Herald, the aircraft, registered as PS-VPB, was in its initial approach at about 17,000 feet when it suddenly spun out of control and crashed into Vila Santa Fe at around 1:22 PM local time. Eyewitness accounts and video footage shared on social media show the aircraft in a flat spin before impact.
FlightRadar24 data indicates that the aircraft experienced erratic behavior shortly before the crash. The plane briefly lost altitude, followed by a gain in altitude, before entering a steep descent with a maximum recorded rate of -24,064 feet per minute.
Brazil’s Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) has launched an investigation into the crash. Brigadier Marcelo Moreno, head of CENIPA, stated that the flight crew did not communicate any emergency prior to the accident.
The aircraft’s black box has been recovered from the crash site, which should provide crucial information for investigators. Authorities are also examining weather conditions at the time of the incident, with reports indicating the presence of turbulence, thunderstorms, and icing in the vicinity.
VoePass Chief Operations Officer Marcel Moura mentioned that while ice was predicted at the aircraft’s cruising altitude, it was within an acceptable range. However, he noted that the ATR 72 is sensitive to icing conditions, suggesting this could be a potential factor in the investigation.
The ATR 72-500 involved in the accident was 14 years old, initially delivered to Belle Air in 2010 before being acquired by VoePass in 2022. ATR, the aircraft manufacturer, has told Reuters that its specialists are fully engaged in supporting both the investigation and the airline.
As the investigation continues, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared three days of mourning for the victims. The tragedy marks Brazil’s deadliest aviation accident since the TAM Linhas Aéreas crash in 2007, which claimed 199 lives.
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