Brazilian authorities have concluded the recovery of all 62 victims from a tragic plane crash in Vinhedo, located 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of São Paulo, as experts begin examining the aircraft’s black boxes to uncover the cause of the disaster.
The ATR 72-500 plane, operated by Voepass, was captured on video in a terrifying downward spiral before crashing into a residential area on Friday. The aircraft landed on its belly and burst into flames, nearly flattening on impact, according to São Paulo fire lieutenant Olivia Perroni Cazo.
BREAKING: Voepass Flight 2283, a large passenger plane, crashes in Vinhedo, Brazil pic.twitter.com/wmpJLVYbB3
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The regional government confirmed that all 62 bodies—34 men and 28 women—were recovered and taken to the São Paulo morgue for identification. Two victims, including the pilot and co-pilot, have been identified through fingerprints, according to Vinhedo Mayor Dario Pacheco.
The twin-engine turboprop, manufactured by ATR, was en route from Cascavel in Paraná state to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport. Brazil’s Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) has started analyzing the two black boxes recovered from the wreckage, which contain in-flight data and cockpit conversations, said Marcelo Moreno, CENIPA’s chief. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, according to the Brazilian Air Force.
Flight Radar 24 data indicates that the plane maintained an altitude of 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) for about an hour before it began a rapid descent at 1:21 pm local time. Radar contact was lost just one minute later at 1:22 pm. The air force reported that the crew never declared an emergency and did not encounter adverse weather conditions during the flight.
ATR, a joint venture between Airbus and Italy’s Leonardo, has committed to assisting in the investigation. The plane, which had been in service since 2010, was in compliance with current aviation standards, confirmed the National Civil Aviation Agency. Voepass’s operations director, Marcel Moura, stated that the aircraft underwent routine maintenance the night before the crash and that no technical issues were detected. However, experts speculate that icing on the plane’s wings may have contributed to the plane crash. Moura acknowledged that the aircraft operates at altitudes sensitive to icing but noted that conditions on Friday were within acceptable parameters for flight.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has declared three days of national mourning following the plane crash, marking it as one of the worst aviation disasters in Brazil’s recent history. The crash is the deadliest in the country since 2007 when a TAM Airlines Airbus A320 overran a runway at São Paulo’s Congonhas Airport, killing all 187 passengers and 12 runway workers.
The fiery wreckage transformed the plane’s fuselage into twisted metal, but despite the devastation, no casualties were reported on the ground. Lourdes da Silva Astolfo, 67, who lives just meters from the crash site, described the harrowing experience: “It was horrible, horrible… such a sad tragedy.” She recounted feeling a rumble akin to a tremor before seeing the plane overhead and hearing the subsequent impact and neighbors’ horrified screams as smoke filled the air.
The usually serene neighborhood saw a steady stream of police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks throughout Saturday. Voepass confirmed that all passengers were traveling on Brazilian identity documents, with one woman holding dual citizenship with Portugal and a family of three from Venezuela among the victims.
