A black box recording has shed light on the final moments of a flight before it tragically crashed in Brazil.
The turboprop aircraft was en route to São Paulo when it lost communication with air traffic control.
When it was approximately 50 miles from São Paulo, the plane executed a sharp turn and descended rapidly, as indicated by data from the flight tracking site Flight Radar.
The crash occurred in Vinhedo around 1:30pm on August 9. The plane had reportedly been flying normally until just nine minutes prior at 1:21pm.
Recent information retrieved from the plane’s black box provides details on the cockpit’s final moments before the crash.
A preliminary report has also been released, offering some initial insights into the potential causes of the crash.
Three experts interviewed by Reuters have suggested a factor that may have influenced the aircraft, though they emphasized that the report is still preliminary.
They proposed that icing, which occurs when ice accumulates on the wings and control surfaces, might have played a role.
This can severely affect the pilots’ ability to control the aircraft as it hampers the maneuverability of the flaps.
Lieutenant Colonel Pablo Fróes commented on the crew’s statements, which indicate that they became aware of an issue on board.
He stated: “The crew members are commenting on failures in the [de-icing] system.”
“The first time, during the climb, we had the commander, the pilot in command, commenting via the CDR (communication system), that there was a failure in the airframe system.”
He added: “What we know is that the airplane was flying in an area with severe icing conditions.”
Nonetheless, Carlos Baldin, head of the Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents investigation division, noted that “there are still many doubts.”
He remarked: “This accident shouldn’t have happened, not in the conditions in which the plane was flying and was being operated. It had protection equipment.”
A video of the plane shortly before its crash circulated on social media, showing the aircraft veering out of control.
It then plunged into a cluster of trees, followed by a plume of smoke as it impacted the ground.
Another clip depicted the aftermath of the crash, with burning debris scattered across a residential area.
Despite the crash occurring in a residential area, no injuries were reported on the ground.
Flight Radar data suggests that the plane had been at 17,000 feet before descending 4,000 feet in two minutes.