Brazilian Investigators Cite Ice Buildup as Cause of Fatal Plane Crash

A preliminary report into the August 9 crash of a Voepass ATR-72 airliner in Brazil has highlighted signs of ice buildup on the aircraft but has not yet determined a definitive cause for the accident, according to Brazil’s Centre for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa).
The report, released on September 6, indicates that icing detectors were triggered during the flight, and cockpit recordings revealed that the co-pilot reported “a lot of icing.” This suggests a potential failure of the plane’s de-icing system, though Cenipa officials noted that this information is still under investigation.
Experts consulted by Reuters believe that icing could have contributed to the crash but caution that the report is preliminary and that multiple factors are typically involved in aviation accidents. The ATR-72 aircraft, operated by Voepass, lost control and crashed, resulting in the deaths of all 62 people on board.
Cenipa has stated that the investigation could take over a year to complete. US aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse commented that while the report’s details align with icing issues, accidents are often the result of a combination of factors rather than a single cause.
Loss of speed alerts were recorded, but the crew did not declare an emergency before the aircraft spiraled into the ground. Cenipa officials, including Lieutenant-Colonel Paulo Froes, have emphasized that the precise reasons for the loss of control remain unclear.
Voepass confirmed that both the aircraft and its pilots were properly certified and that all required systems were operational. The airline pledged to continue cooperating with the ongoing investigation.