BRASILIA: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Saturday announced three days of national mourning following a tragic plane crash involving a Voepass ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft that resulted in the death of all 61 people on board. The crash occurred on August 9, 2024, as the aircraft was en route from Cascavel Airport to São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport.
The Voepass flight 2283, operating with the registration PS-VPB, was a routine domestic service when it went down in the town of Vinhedo. The aircraft was carrying 57 passengers and four crew members, including Captain Danilo Santos Romano, who was identified as one of the victims. Romano, a 35-year-old pilot with Voepass since 2022, had previously flown a range of aircraft, including the Airbus A320 and A330, with Air Astana and Avianca Brazil.
Initial reports suggest that the ATR 72-500 experienced a flat spin—a dangerous maneuver that occurs when both wings of the aircraft stall, leading to a rapid and uncontrollable descent. Social media footage of the incident shows the plane spiraling downward in a vertical trajectory.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has launched an investigation into the crash, with officers from the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center currently analyzing the aircraft’s black boxes: the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
Air Brigadier Marcelo Moreno emphasized that the investigation will be thorough but did not specify a timeline for its completion, noting that each case presents unique challenges that may affect analysis duration.
The aircraft manufacturer, ATR, has also responded to the incident, expressing condolences and confirming that their specialists are actively supporting both the investigation and the affected airline. In a statement, ATR said, “Our first thoughts are with all the individuals affected by this event. The ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer.”
Voepass, formerly known as Passaredo Linhas Aéreas, is a regional Brazilian carrier that operates a fleet exclusively comprised of ATR turboprop aircraft. The airline’s fleet includes nine ATR 72-500s, four ATR 72-600s, and two ATR 42-500s, with an average fleet age of 17.4 years. The ATR 72-500 model involved in the crash is capable of seating up to 68 passengers in a single-class configuration, while the ATR 42-500 accommodates up to 48 passengers.
