By: Tom Su

A plane crash in Brazil that killed all 12 people on board is believed to be caused by a mechanical failure, according to initial reports from the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). The accident occurred late Friday when a Beechcraft King Air 350, a twin-engine aircraft, crashed shortly after takeoff from São Paulo’s Congonhas Airport.

The flight, operated by local charter company AeroTrans, was en route to Rio de Janeiro. Witnesses described seeing the plane struggle in the air before descending rapidly and crashing into a wooded area near Embu das Artes. Emergency services faced significant difficulties reaching the site due to the dense vegetation.

ANAC has recovered the aircraft’s black boxes and is analyzing the data. Preliminary findings suggest a potential malfunction in the aircraft’s engine or fuel systems. “We are focusing on the engine controls and fuel systems as possible factors in the crash,” said Roberto Santos, ANAC spokesperson.

The Beechcraft, which was manufactured in 2015, had recently passed inspection three months prior to the accident. AeroTrans, a charter service with a generally strong safety record, has pledged full cooperation with the investigation. “We are deeply saddened by this loss and committed to understanding what went wrong,” stated AeroTrans CEO Julia Mendes.

Families of the victims, who were traveling for business, are in mourning. The Brazilian government has promised a comprehensive investigation, urging the public to await the official findings before drawing conclusions.