The crash of an ATR-72 passenger plane in Vinhedo, southeastern Brazil, on Friday, killing all 58 passengers and four crew members, shocked the nation and made headlines around the world.
The investigation into Voepass Flight 2283, which plunged 4,000 meters in just one minute before crashing, is expected to take at least 30 days as officials analyze data from the plane’s black boxes. On Sunday, crews began recovering debris from the apartment complex where the accident occurred.
Experts from France and Canada are involved in the investigation. The French Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety sent agents because of the French origin of the aircraft, and Canadian authorities were also involved because the engines were manufactured in Canada.
These officials helped remove the engines, which are being stored at an airport in São Paulo for further analysis.
This accident is Brazil’s worst aviation tragedy since 2009, when a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 228 people on board. According to the Aviation Safety Network, Brazil has recorded 137 aviation accidents so far in 2024, 26 of which were fatal and 110 people lost their lives.
The number of incidents in Brazil exceeds that of other major South American countries, including Argentina (43), Mexico (37), Colombia (21) and Chile (11).
In recent months, more and more flight problems and near misses have been in the news, raising concerns among regulators and travelers alike. While experts say flying remains safe, they warn that a shortage of air traffic controllers, outdated aircraft tracking technology and other systemic problems pose a growing threat to flight safety.
A 2021 study by the University of São Paulo’s Institute of Psychology found that air traffic controllers at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, one of Brazil’s busiest airports, suffer from significant mental fatigue at the end of their shift, affecting their decision-making ability.
“Aircraft professionals work in an environment full of unpredictability and uncertainty. If all levels of safety systems fail simultaneously – including human error – the consequences can be catastrophic,” said Dâmaris Campos Teixeira, the study’s lead researcher.
Air traffic controllers have long raised concerns about their pay and working conditions. In 2023, a union called for a strike, but the Higher Labor Court intervened to prevent it.
