This Saturday (10), the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) announced that it will open an investigation to determine the responsibility of the Voepass in the tragic air accident that occurred last Friday (9) in Vinhedo, which resulted in the death of four crew members and 58 passengers. The city of Vinhedo is located about 75 kilometers from the capital of São Paulo.
The procedure will be conducted by the MPT headquarters in the 15th Region, in Campinas, which covers the jurisdiction of Vinhedo. The objective of the investigation is to “verify the extent of the reported facts, ascertain the due responsibilities and adopt measures that contribute to preventing future accidents,” as informed by the agency.
Prosecutor Marcus Vinícius Gonçalves initiated the process, stressing that “it is evident” the violation of social rights related to safety in the workplace. To this end, it was determined that an official letter was sent to Voepass, requesting the presentation of the Work Accident Communications (CAT) and the employment contracts of the four crew members involved. The Federal Police Department in Campinas is also expected to provide initial data on the investigation. In addition, updates will be requested from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) on the progress of the investigations.
The flight of the ATR-72 aircraft departed from Cascavel bound for Guarulhos International Airport, and left no survivors. The plane’s black boxes were sent to Brasilia, where they will be analyzed by the FAB, through the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA). The investigators have begun preliminary work, which includes preparation, extraction and recording of the data.
By the end of Saturday afternoon (10), 50 of the 62 bodies had been recovered from the rubble. During the day, 17 families of the victims were welcomed in the auditorium of the Oscar Freire Institute, located near the Forensic Medical Institute (IML) in São Paulo.
Authorities are focused on coordinating rescue efforts and assisting affected families. The MPT’s investigation will seek not only to clarify the causes of the accident, but also to ensure that measures are implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
