SAO PAULO — The aviation authority in Brazil has halted operations for the regional airline Voepass due to safety concerns as an inquiry is ongoing into a tragic incident from August, which resulted in the loss of 62 lives.
The calamity occurred when one of Voepass’s aircraft crashed near Sao Paulo, with indications of ice accumulating on its wings. In response, Brazilian authorities mandated the airline to implement measures such as extending maintenance ground time and altering its management team by October. Despite the passage of four months, a recent assessment indicated that progress was insufficient.
The aviation agency expressed Voepass’s “inability to address the irregularities detected during inspections and failure to adhere to previously stipulated conditions to maintain operations in line with the required safety standards.”
The suspension will remain effective until Voepass complies with regulatory safety measures. Despite the suspension, Voepass has remained silent on the regulatory decision. The airline primarily serves regional routes across 15 Brazilian cities.
In connection to the August accident, investigators have disclosed that the pilots had reported a malfunction in the aircraft’s ice removal system. Nevertheless, the investigators were prudent, refraining from attributing the crash directly to this malfunction and emphasized that additional investigations are required.
