A devastating incident unfolded near São Paulo, Brazil, where a twin-engine turboprop passenger plane tragically crashed, claiming the lives of all 61 people on board. As investigations are underway, here’s a detailed look at the information gathered so far.
Flight Details and Timeline
The ill-fated VoePass Flight 2283 took off from Cascavel, in southern Brazil, at 11:46 a.m. on Friday. The aircraft, an ATR 72, was en route to Guarulhos Airport, just outside São Paulo. However, as the plane neared its destination, it experienced a rapid descent, signaling distress but never sending an emergency alert.
According to Flightradar24, the plane began a steep descent from its cruising altitude of 17,000 feet, with its transponder indicating a drop of between 8,000 and 24,000 feet per minute. In just 89 seconds, from the first sign of trouble to the final transmission at 1:22 p.m., the aircraft spiraled out of control before crashing in Vinhedo, a small city northwest of São Paulo.
Eyewitness Accounts and Videos
Eyewitnesses in Vinhedo captured chilling footage of the plane’s final moments. Videos show the aircraft spinning horizontally as it plummeted towards the ground, with the loud rumble of its engine echoing ominously. After the plane vanished from sight near a gated community, a massive plume of black smoke rose from the crash site.
One video revealed the aftermath: a house engulfed in flames, surrounded by debris, including the shredded fuselage, twisted metal, and fragments of the cockpit.
About the Aircraft: The ATR 72
The crashed plane was a 14-year-old ATR 72, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft manufactured by a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo. The plane had been operating under VoePass, a small Brazilian airline servicing midsize cities across the country. Notably, the same aircraft had successfully completed a flight from São Paulo to Cascavel earlier that day.
Brazilian officials confirmed that the plane was in compliance with national regulations, and all systems were functioning correctly at the time of takeoff.
Ongoing Investigation: Cause Still Unknown
While the exact cause of the crash remains undetermined, Brazilian authorities and the airline have launched an investigation. Experts caution against jumping to conclusions before the investigation is complete, a process that can take months or even years.
Historically, icy conditions have been linked to crashes involving turboprop planes. In a similar incident in 1994, an ATR 72 operated by American Eagle crashed in Indiana due to ice buildup, leading to the loss of 68 lives. That crash resulted in the addition of more ice protection equipment on ATR models. On the day of the VoePass crash, Flightradar24 reported an active severe icing warning in the area, compounded by turbulence and thunderstorms.
The Human Toll: Remembering the Victims
Tragically, all 61 people on board, including 57 passengers and four crew members, perished in the crash. The airline has released a list of the victims’ names, as the nation mourns this heartbreaking loss.
