ATR-72 is a “safe and efficient” aircraft, former CENIPA investigator tells CNN

Colonel Rufino Ferreira, former investigator at the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa), said in an interview with CNN that the Voepass ATR-72 aircraft, involved in the accident in Vinhedo, in the interior of São Paulo, is “safe and efficient”.

The expert, who was once the commander of this aircraft model, shared his impressions of the plane and the possible causes of the accident that resulted in the death of 62 people.

“It is an extremely safe aircraft, and it does have dual systems,” Ferreira highlighted. He emphasized that, despite having different characteristics from a modern jet, the ATR-72 is a certified aircraft in terms of production and systems, offering adequate conditions for pilots to deal with various emergency situations.

Rigorous training and simulations

The former investigator highlighted the importance of the training received by pilots: “Both in the co-pilot position and in the pilot position, in the simulators you train for all the conditions you may encounter and ice is one of them, fire on board, smoke in the cabin, these are very difficult situations”.

Despite his confidence in the aircraft and the pilots’ training, Ferreira expressed concern about the specific circumstances of the accident: “What worries us most as investigators and pilots is the decisions that these pilots had at the time, how much the weather may have influenced it, or perhaps something else that has not yet been visually apparent to us.”

The investigation into the accident is ongoing, seeking to clarify the factors that led to the crash of the aircraft. Authorities are working to determine whether adverse weather conditions or other factors that have not yet been identified contributed to the tragic event.

Accident in Vinhedo (SP) is the 5th worst in history involving ATR 72