Brazil Probes Ice Buildup in Airliner Crash That Killed 62 People

Brazilian investigators are exploring the possibility that ice buildup played a role in the tragic crash of a Voepass airliner in August, which claimed 62 lives. The crash occurred on August 9 when the ATR-72 aircraft lost control and plummeted to the ground.

Preliminary Findings

The Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa) released a preliminary report on Friday, highlighting that icing detectors had been activated during the flight. Investigators discovered that the copilot mentioned “a lot of icing,” raising concerns that the plane’s de-icing system may have failed. However, officials stressed that more data is needed to confirm this.

Ice Buildup as a Factor

Aviation experts, including Anthony Brickhouse, have noted that while ice buildup could be a contributing factor, accidents are rarely caused by a single event. Cenipa is continuing its investigation, which is expected to take over a year to complete.

The plane had all the necessary certifications, and the crew did not declare an emergency before the crash, despite loss of speed alerts being triggered.

Voepass Airline’s Response

Voepass, the airline operating the flight, stated that both the pilots and the aircraft were properly certified. The airline expressed its commitment to cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Ongoing Investigation

Cenipa officials remain uncertain why the aircraft, which had all the required systems in operation, lost control. Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Froes acknowledged that the plane was flying in severe icing conditions but said the exact cause remains unclear.

As the investigation progresses, more details about the tragic event are expected to emerge.