Brazil’s police formally accuses 16 people for Voepass spiral plane crash that killed 62 in 2024

In an unprecedented turn of events, Brazil's federal police have officially accused 16 individuals associated with airline Voepass for the catastrophic crash of their aircraft on August 9, 2024, which resulted in the loss of 62 lives. The incident occurred in Vinhedo, a city near Sao Paulo, when an ATR 72-500 twin-engine turboprop plane plummeted from a height of 13,000 feet into the backyard of a gated condominium, claiming the lives of all 62 individuals on board - 58 passengers and four crew members.

The investigation has unveiled a series of alleged malpractices, omissions, and negligence by Voepass, both in its operational conduct and maintenance procedures. Among those formally accused is Voepass's owner and president, José Luiz Felicio Filho. Local prosecutors must now decide on the charges against him and the other accused, with a potential sentencing date to be determined.

The federal police have also accused 15 Voepass employees, both current and former, of endangering air traffic safety, a charge that could result in up to 12 years of imprisonment. These individuals are accused of omitting technical failures from aircraft logbooks, further compounding the company's negligence.

One of the key findings from the investigation is that the aircraft's data recorders revealed that its de-icing system had failed or been manually cycled on and off during 136 flights. This recurring issue was not adequately addressed, leading to the aircraft being cleared for departure despite being in the midst of severe icing conditions. The aircraft's data recorders highlighted this repeated failure, which ultimately contributed to the crash.

Federal police investigator André Ribeiro emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that this event marks a watershed moment in air crash disasters in Brazil. Ribeiro further suggested that prosecutors should consider investigating potential charges against Brazil's aviation agency, ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil), as well.