Death spiral.. Plane falls from the sky and explodes near homes in Brazil (video)
Arab Weather - Eyewitnesses expressed their horror when they saw a plane "fall from the sky and explode" in Brazil on Friday, while experts continue to try to understand what happened.
While a dramatic video clip showed the moment a Voepass Airlines plane fell over a populated area before crashing behind a group of trees near houses.
Daniel de Lima, a resident of Vinhedo, near the site of the accident, told Reuters:
"I think the pilot was trying to avoid a densely populated area."
All 61 people on board the plane were declared dead, although relatives are still waiting for confirmation of the fate of their loved ones.
Voepass later revealed that all 57 passengers and four crew members were carrying Brazilian-issued documents and Governor Ratinho Junior told reporters that some of the passengers were doctors from Paraná who were heading to a seminar.
Causes of the plane crash Speculation about possible factors
Experts have begun trying to understand the possible causes of the accident, without announcing any confirmations yet.
The plane's black box was found in the early hours of this morning, and the Federal Police have begun an investigation, noting that it is too early to determine the cause of the accident. A senior aviation expert told MailOnline that the plane may have suffered an engine or flight control system failure, or may have lost a significant part of it.
Captain Ross Aimer, who has more than 40 years of experience flying aircraft in the United States, noted that once an aircraft enters a "death spiral," it is very difficult to get out of it.
The most likely cause of a plane crash, Aimer explained, is a low-speed stall, a condition in which the wing loses its ability to provide sufficient lift due to the slow flow of air over it. This can happen when the plane is too slow, as a result of a technical failure, severe turbulence, pilot error, or an object hitting the wing, such as a bird.
American Airlines Flight 1549 is known to have crash-landed on the Hudson River after a flock of birds struck its wing, causing the plane to lose power shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of about 700 feet.
The airline said the ATR-72 that crashed in Vinhedo, Brazil, was flying at 17,000 feet, an altitude that reduces the chance of it hitting birds. After the plane likely came to a halt, video footage showed it spinning as it fell to the ground, a process known as a "death spiral" or "graveyard spin." Some have speculated that ice buildup on the plane may have caused the accident.
During a press conference, Marcel Mora, Chief Operating Officer of Voepass, said:
"Icing was expected at the altitudes the aircraft was flying at, but within the acceptable range."
"But the aircraft is sensitive to ice, and that could be one possible reason," Mora added, noting that the aircraft's de-icing system, along with all other systems, had been deemed operational before takeoff.
What is a death spiral?
A death spiral in aviation refers to a dangerous and often fatal situation in which an aircraft enters a sharp, accelerated, spiraling descent, usually due to a loss of control. This situation can be caused by several factors, such as pilot confusion, mechanical failure, or mishandling of the aircraft. If a death spiral is not dealt with quickly and properly, it can lead to catastrophic structural failure or a crash with the ground.
Intensive investigations and an atmosphere of sadness after the Voepass plane crash in Brazil
Officials in the town of Valinhos, near Vinhedo, said a house in a local housing complex was damaged when the plane crashed into the backyard. Fortunately, no residents were injured, and in a statement released by the airline last night, it said:
“Voepass has activated all means to support those affected,” the company added. “There is no confirmation yet on how the incident occurred or the current status of the people on board.”
Later, Valinhos officials confirmed that there were no survivors from the accident.
The plane, registered PS-VPB and a 14-year-old ATR72-500, lost 13,000 feet of altitude in less than two minutes during the final moments of its flight, according to FlightRadar24 data. The GPS signal was cut off just before 1:30 p.m. local time.
-
Previous incidents
ATR aircraft have been involved in fatal accidents before. In 1994, an ATR-72 crashed in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco in a suicide accident involving the pilot. In 2017, an ATR-42 crashed in Canada after being exposed to severe icy conditions.
Despite these incidents, Captain Aimer assured the DailyMail that the ATR-72 is relatively safe, adding that these aircraft are not commonly used in commercial air travel in the United States. He said:
You may also like:
A strange phenomenon raises concern.. balloon-like swellings on car bodies in China (video)
Sources:
Websites
Browse on the official website