In a preliminary report released on Friday, the Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa) stated that there were indications of ice buildup on the airliner that crashed in Brazil in August. However, the report did not provide a conclusive reason for the tragic accident that claimed the lives of all 62 people on board.

According to the report, the aircraft belonging to local carrier Voepass had its icing detectors activated during the flight. Cockpit recordings also revealed the copilot mentioning "a lot of icing" before the incident. This raises the possibility that the plane's de-icing system might have failed, although Cenipa highlighted that further confirmation is needed.

While three experts interviewed by Reuters suggested that icing could have played a role in the crash, they emphasized the need for caution as the investigation is still ongoing, and accidents are often caused by multiple factors.

The ATR-72 aircraft, owned by Voepass, experienced a loss of control before spiraling down to the ground on August 9. Investigations by Cenipa are estimated to continue for over a year as they strive to determine the full extent of the circumstances surrounding the accident.

U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse expressed that the findings from the report align with the possibility of icing being a contributing factor. However, he cautioned that accidents rarely stem from a single event.

The report also revealed that the crew of the ATR aircraft never declared an emergency situation despite loss of speed alerts being triggered. It remains unclear to Cenipa why an aircraft that possessed all necessary certifications ended up losing control and crashing.

In response to the report, Voepass issued a statement confirming that both the aircraft and the pilots were properly certified, and the necessary systems were operational. The carrier expressed its cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

The tragedy serves as a reminder of the complex nature of aviation accidents and the importance of examining all relevant factors. As the investigation progresses, authorities will delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the crash, seeking to provide answers to the families of the victims and prevent similar incidents in the future.