The recent tragic crash involving a Voepass-operated ATR 72 twin-engine plane in Brazil has brought attention to the turboprop's history of air disasters over the past three decades. According to an Aviation Safety Network database, incidents involving various types of this aircraft have resulted in approximately 470 fatalities since the 1990s, with several cases linked to icing issues.

Last Friday's crash, which claimed the lives of all 62 passengers and crew on board en route to Sao Paulo, is still under investigation by authorities to determine its cause. However, aviation experts have already speculated about the potential involvement of ice buildup on the plane due to its previous incidents related to icing conditions.

Mary Schiavo, an aviation safety expert and former inspector general of the US Transportation Department, expressed her concerns after analyzing footage of last week's crash. She specifically pointed to a 1994 incident where an American Eagle ATR 72-200 went down in Indiana, killing all 68 people on board, likely due to ice buildup on the aircraft. Schiavo stated, "I can tell you after the... report in the United States of America, where there was the terrible icing accident with the ATR, I wouldn't fly 'em."

Following the 1994 tragedy, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued new operating procedures for ATRs and similar planes, advising pilots not to use autopilot during icing conditions. In response to the incident, the French-Italian plane manufacturer, ATR, also improved its de-icing system. However, another ATR-72 encountered ice buildup during a flight in Norway in 2016, leading to a stall but with the pilot successfully regaining control of the aircraft.

Experts have suggested that ice buildup could be the reason behind the sudden stall and subsequent spiraling descent observed in the recent Brazilian crash. Voepass' director of operations, Marcelo Moura, mentioned that while there were forecasts for ice during the flight's takeoff, they were within acceptable levels for the aircraft. The de-icing system and all other systems were deemed operational before takeoff, according to Moura. He acknowledged the sensitivity of the ATR 72-500 model to ice buildup and stated it could be a contributing factor to the crash.

Brazilian air force officials leading the investigation into the crash have stated that it is too early to confirm if ice was indeed the cause. Lt. Col. Carlos Henrique Baldi emphasized that the ATR 72-500 is certified to fly in severe icing conditions in various countries, including those with more significant ice impacts than Brazil. Manufacturer ATR has also issued a statement confirming its involvement in the investigation and expressing its commitment to support both the investigation and its customer.