Brazil plane crash on its way to São Paulo. There are no survivors. It is unclear how the tragic accident could have happened. Initial indications point to possible icing on the wings.
A devastating Brazil plane crash occurred in Brazil on Friday. All 61 people on board died. The plane was traveling from Cascavel in the south of the country to Guarulhos airport near the city of São Paulo, the fire department and the airline Voepass announced on Friday.
Sigmets declared for region
The investigation into the cause of the accident is now beginning. “It’s still very early,” said Marcelo Moreno, head of the Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aviation Accidents (Cenipa), at a press conference. But there is already speculation as to what could have led to the tragic accident. A warning (Sigmet) for severe icing in the air was issued for Friday in the region around the Brazil plane crash site, according to the “Bild” newspaper.
Sigmets are special aviation warnings that draw attention to potentially dangerous weather phenomena that could endanger the safety of air traffic. The Sigmet issued on this day referred to flight altitudes between 12,000 and 21,000 feet, which corresponds to approximately 3,650 to 6,400 meters. In addition, a warning was issued about turbulence.
Icing changes the flow behavior-Brazil plane crash
In Brazilian aviation groups, pilots who flew over the affected region on the day of the accident shared photos of icing on their cockpit windows. These observations are consistent with the analysis of a meteorologist from the American news channel CNN, who explained that the plane was flying at an altitude where there was 100 percent humidity and freezing temperatures.
When an aircraft ices up, ice forms on the wings and fuselage, Brazil plane crash among other things, which increases the weight of the aircraft. This can change the aircraft’s center of gravity to the point where it may no longer be controllable. Icing also changes the way the air flows over the wings.
Airplane did not fall like a stone from the sky
In addition, sensors that record data such as speed, temperature or air pressure can be blocked by the ice and therefore show no or incorrect values. In addition, moving parts of the aircraft, such as the control surfaces or landing flaps, can be blocked by the icing.
Icing and turbulence – was that the fatal combination that led to the crash? Video footage of the accident shows that the 14-year-old ATR72 did not fall like a stone from the sky, but rather fell to the ground in an uncontrolled spin, which suggests icing as a possible cause.