Brazilians authorities continued their investigation on Saturday into the plane crash that occurred the day before in São Paulo state, resulting in the deaths of all 62 people on board. Rescue teams worked to recover dozens of bodies from the wreckage as families began to arrive to identify their loved ones.
The aircraft, an ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop operated by local airline Voepass, was en route to São Paulo’s international airport in Guarulhos with 58 passengers and four crew members when it crashed in Vinhedo. Initially reported to have 62 individuals, the number was later adjusted to 61, and then back to 62 after a missing passenger, Constantino Thé Maia, was discovered not to be on the original list. Voepass also indicated that some passengers held dual citizenship, with both Brazilian and Venezuelan documents.
According to a statement from the São Paulo state government, as of Saturday afternoon, teams had removed 50 bodies from the wreckage, with two having been identified by forensic specialists. Local fire department spokesman Maycon Cristo explained that a winch was utilized to extract parts of the damaged aircraft. He emphasized the importance of gathering evidence to ensure accurate identification of the victims.
Efforts to transport the deceased to the morgue began on Friday, with authorities asking family members to provide medical records, X-rays, and dental exams to assist with the identification process. Blood tests were also carried out.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane spinning uncontrollably and plummeting vertically before crashing into a gated community, where the fuselage was engulfed in flames. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among residents on the ground.
The crash marks the deadliest airline incident globally since January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines plane in Nepal crashed, killing 72 people. Both planes involved were ATR 72 models, with investigations attributing the Nepal incident to pilot error.
Meteorological reports from Metsul, a prominent Brazilian weather service, indicated severe icing conditions in the area at the time of the crash, raising speculation about its potential role in the accident.
A video shared online featured a Voepass pilot comforting passengers on a different flight, reassuring them about the ATR 72’s safety record while mourning the loss of colleagues in the tragic event. He expressed that the impact of the tragedy extended beyond those who perished, affecting everyone involved.
Access to the main morgue in São Paulo was restricted as families arrived to identify victims. Many family members declined to speak to the media while waiting at a hotel in the downtown area.
Historically, the ATR 72-200 model has also been associated with fatal accidents, including a crash in 1994 that resulted from ice accumulation. In response to such incidents, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had previously issued guidelines regarding operations in icy conditions.
While it remains unclear whether weather was a significant factor in this latest crash, aviation expert Lito Sousa warned against drawing definitive conclusions based merely on footage of the event. He suggested that conditions indicated a severe loss of control.
Both black boxes from the aircraft have been sent to a laboratory in Brasília for analysis, with results expected within 30 days. Marcelo Moura, Voepass’s operations director, noted that although markets predicted icy conditions, they were deemed acceptable for the aircraft.
In addition, Brazilian officials stated that both the air force and the Federal Police have launched their own investigations into the crash. ATR, the manufacturer of the aircraft, is also providing support for the investigation.
The ATR 72, typically used for shorter flights, has been linked to a history of airline accidents resulting in approximately 470 fatalities since the 1990s, according to aviation safety data. Brazil’s airports minister assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to provide clarity on the incident to the public.