Brazilian federal police have formally charged 16 current and former employees of Voepass airline in connection with a fatal aircraft accident that occurred in August 2024. The crash, which took place near the city of Vinhedo outside São Paulo, resulted in the deaths of all 62 people aboard the ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. Among those accused is Voepass owner and president José Luiz Felício Filho, who now faces potential prosecution alongside 15 other airline staff members.
Investigators concluded that the aircraft was inappropriately authorized to depart despite known severe icing conditions and repeated malfunctions of the plane’s de-icing system. According to federal police, the aircraft had experienced de-icing failures on three separate flights earlier that same day. The charges against most of the accused carry potential sentences of up to 12 years imprisonment, with additional allegations including the deliberate concealment of technical problems in aircraft maintenance records.
Following a two-year investigation, authorities determined that organizational failures, inadequate maintenance procedures, and intentional omissions directly contributed to the disaster. Federal investigators have also recommended that prosecutors examine potential misconduct by Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency. Legal representatives for the victims’ families have indicated their intention to pursue damages against all parties deemed responsible for the tragedy, including company directors and organizations involved in aircraft operations and ticket sales.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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