Voepass Linhas Aéreas ATR 72-500 plane crash
Vinhedo, Brazil
Updated on
The ATR-72-212A operated by Voepass Linhas Aereas took off from Cascavel, Brazil, for a passenger flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil. 58 passengers and 4 crewmembers were onboard. As the aircraft began its initial approach at approximately FL170 (around 17,000 feet), it suddenly spun out of control and crashed into a residential area in Vila Santa Fé, Brazil. The plane hit the ground at high speed and burst into flames, resulting in the tragic loss of all 62 occupants. No residential houses were struck, and there were no injuries reported on the ground.
The ATR 72 proceeded normally until two minutes before the crash. As the aircraft descended through FL170, communication was abruptly lost. No emergency calls were made, and the pilots did not report any adverse weather conditions. The plane plummeted, apparently in a flat spin.
Five months prior, the aircraft had experienced hydraulic issues and a tail strike during landing, resulting in structural damage. It was out of service for four months and returned to operation just one month before the accident. Passengers later reported that the air conditioning system was malfunctioning, causing excessive heat onboard.