By: Matthew Wang

A plane from the airline Voepass crashed on August 9, 2024, killing its entire 62 passengers and crew. Having crashed in a gated community near its destination at Sáo Paulo, Brazil, this aircraft’s mysterious crash has drawn many theories over the disaster.

The aircraft, an ATR 72-500, started its flight from Cascavel, Brazil with 58 passengers and 4 crewmates. Amongst the 58 passengers aboard the plane were 8 doctors heading to a medical conference, according to the PRANA Medical Council. Additionally, The New York Times reported that there was also a University professor, a personal trainer, and a judo referee. However, despite the casualties onboard the plane, nobody on the ground was harmed.

The cause of the crash was widely accepted to be due to the aircraft stalling mid-flight, having lost enough lift to keep it flying. According to pilot turned accident investigator John Cox in an interview with The New York Times, “You can’t get into a spin without stalling, its an A + B = C.” However, what remains unknown is how the aircraft entered its fatal stall that sent it sprawling to the ground.

One theory suggests that an excessive ice buildup may have caused the aircraft to stall, adding additional weight and reducing the aerodynamic nature of the craft. According to The New York Times, “Brazilian officials had issued a warning about the potential for severe icing where the plane was flying when it crashed. And shortly before the disaster, a different passenger plane had experienced such icing nearby,” further supporting this hypothesis. However, the aircraft model flown included anti-icing features after a similar crash in 1994.

Until the data retrieved from the aircraft finishes its processing, we may never truly know the truth behind the airplane crash. Until then, forensic investigators and aeronautic experts alike continue to ponder over the question of how this aircraft fell to its doom.