SAO PAULO: Authorities investigating last week’s plane crash in Brazil, which claimed the lives of all 62 passengers and crew, have reviewed the full transcript of the “black box”. However, the transcript has not yet clarified the cause of the accident, according to local TV station Globo.
The transcript, covering approximately two hours, reveals that the pilot and copilot noticed a significant altitude loss about a minute before the crash. The co-pilot is heard asking for more power to stabilize the plane. Globo reported that the transcript includes the copilot’s concerns but did not release the audio or transcript publicly.
Brazil’s aviation accident investigation center, Cenipa, confirmed late Wednesday that no external party had access to the voice recorder’s audio or transcript, and did not comment on Globo’s report.
The ATR-72 turboprop, operated by local airline Voepass, was en route from Cascavel to Sao Paulo when it crashed around 1:30 p.m. in Vinhedo, approximately 80 km northwest of Sao Paulo. While all on board were killed, no one on the ground was injured.
Social media footage showed the aircraft spiraling out of control before crashing behind trees near houses, resulting in a large plume of black smoke. The Brazilian Air Force reported that the pilots did not report any emergencies or adverse weather conditions before the crash.
Globo noted that the analysis of the cockpit audio alone may not determine the crash’s cause, as no distinct sounds indicative of fire, electrical failure, or engine issues were identified, though engine noise made the audio difficult to analyze. The possibility of icing on the plane’s wing remains unconfirmed by authorities, though some experts have speculated that ice buildup might have contributed to the crash.
