What Caused Brazil Plane Crash That Killed 62 Passengers?

An ATR-72 turboprop plane operated by Voepass crashed on Friday in a residential area near Sao Paulo, Brazil, killing all 62 passengers on board. Investigators have retrieved the black box, which contains voice recordings and flight data.

A preliminary report is anticipated within 30 days, according to the head of Brazil’s aviation accident investigation center, Cenipa. The plane, en route from Cascavel in Parana to Sao Paulo, crashed in Vinhedo, about 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo, around 1:30 p.m. (1630 GMT).

The aircraft was operating normally until 1:21 p.m., after which it ceased responding and radar contact was lost at 1:22 p.m., according to Brazil’s air force. No emergency was reported. Videos show clear skies as the plane began an unusual spiraling motion before the crash.

US aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse stated that investigators will examine factors such as weather conditions and the functionality of the engines and controls to determine what led to the loss of control.

John Hansman, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, reviewed crash footage from Brazil shared on social media and, without analyzing the flight data, suggested that weather likely was not a factor.

He speculated that the crash might have resulted from an engine failure on one side, which could have been mismanaged by the crew, leading to the plane’s downward rotation.

According to experts, air crashes can be caused by various factors, including ice, engine failure, or human error, often involving multiple contributing causes, as noted by Robert A. Clifford, a lawyer who represented victims’ families in the 1994 crash.