Avoiding fate: The miraculous stories behind brazil crash survivors
New information emerges following the plane crash in Brazil. Journalists have contacted individuals who were supposed to be on board the aircraft. These individuals have expressed their gratitude to fate for preventing them from boarding.
According to information provided by the airline Voepass, the tragedy claimed the lives of 57 passengers and four crew members.
The aircraft was flying from Cascavel in the state of Paraná. The twin-engine ATR-72 was transporting 58 passengers and four crew members. They were scheduled to land at Guarulhos International Airport but the plane crashed in a populated area of Vinhedo, a city of approximately 70,000 residents located about 50 miles north-west of São Paulo.
The airline did not disclose what might have caused the accident in the initial statements following the crash. Footage posted on social media and published by Brazilian media shows the final seconds of the flight - the aircraft, rotating around its axis, plunges almost vertically downwards.
They avoided death
Journalists reached out to individuals who were supposed to be on the plane. One middle-aged man was not allowed to board by airport staff because he was late.
"I was upstairs, drinking coffee and waiting. I didn't hear any announcement about my flight. When I went downstairs, it was 12:30 PM GMT, and there was a long queue. I waited, and at 12:41 PM GMT, an airport staff member informed me that I wouldn't be getting on board," he recounted and admitted that at one point, he even started arguing to get on the plane. "He saved my life. He did his job. If he hadn't done it, I probably wouldn't be giving this interview," he stated.
Another passenger, a young man, and his friends found themselves among the 10 people waiting at the wrong gate. When they reached the correct gate, it was already closed. The young man also tried to persuade the staff to let him in. Airport employees suggested rescheduling the flight instead.
The causes of the crash are still being determined. In a statement to the media, ATR, the aircraft manufacturer, reported that it is aware of the accident in Vinhedo and assured that its specialists will fully participate in the investigation. The Brazilian Centre for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents is leading the investigation.
