Brazil charges 16 over 2024 Voepass crash that killed 62

A commercial aircraft crashed shortly after take‑off from São Paulo’s Congonhas Airport on Tuesday, killing all 62 people on board. Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) announced that the flight was “irregularly cleared for departure,” indicating a breach of standard clearance procedures that preceded the accident.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737‑800 operated by a regional carrier, was scheduled to fly to Rio de Janeiro when it lost altitude and struck a residential area near the airport. Preliminary data from the flight data recorder show that the crew received take‑off clearance despite an unresolved conflict on the runway. ANAC has opened a full investigation, and the Ministry of Transport has ordered a review of air‑traffic control protocols to determine how the irregular clearance occurred and to prevent future incidents.