Voepass plane crash: how the rescue and identification of the bodies took place

When the Voepass plane crashed in Vinhedo in the early afternoon of August 9, 2024, the tragedy mobilized emergency forces from across the state of São Paulo. But behind the authorities' swift response lay a complex and delicate operation that united firefighters, Civil Defense, IML, and forensic police—all with a single goal: to provide the victims with dignified identification and their families with some comfort amid their grief.

In just six minutes, the Fire Department arrived at the scene of the crash. The fire containment effort was decisive: it prevented an even greater tragedy, reduced the charring of the bodies, and enabled faster identification of the victims. "When the bodies are not too damaged, we can apply less invasive and faster identification methods, such as dental and fingerprint comparisons," explained Dr. Paulo Tieppo, director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at the IML.

The response structure was set up immediately. Still on Friday, as human remains began to be rescued from the affected area, the IML was preparing the sector to receive the victims. "It was a delicate and precise operation. The bodies were collected personally by forensic doctors, individually packaged with clothing, documents, and belongings, which expedited the identification process," Tieppo explained.

The scene was devastating. For Colonel Henguel Ricardo Pereira, Chief Secretary of Civil Defense, the scene was reminiscent of other major accidents in the country's recent history. "I also had the experience of responding to the TAM accident in 2007. As accustomed as we are to emergency response, it's impossible not to put yourself in the families' shoes," he said.

According to him, one of the main roles of Civil Defense was to ensure reliable information and support for relatives. "The pain is immense and accompanied by doubt: was it really my loved one? Was they on the flight? Did they survive? Our job is to try to clarify, but also to provide humane support," he said.

A structure was set up at the Oscar Freire Institute at USP to receive family members—away from the harsh environment of the IML. Furthermore, an unprecedented measure helped expedite the release of bodies: the Vinhedo registry office moved to São Paulo, allowing death certificates to be issued and registered on-site, without the need for travel to the countryside.

Lawyer Bianca Faller lost her uncle, André Armindo Michel, one of the 62 people killed in the crash. He was returning from a business trip in Cascavel and would have a connecting flight in Guarulhos to reach Florianópolis. "It was a normal day for the family. We knew about the flight, but we never imagined we wouldn't see him again," she said.

News of the accident reached a WhatsApp group belonging to his sister-in-law's family, who live in Cascavel. "We called the company, but we didn't get an immediate response. The only information we got, coldly and objectively, was: 'Yes, he was on the flight.' And nothing more," he said.

André's body was identified by fingerprints. Even so, the uncertainty of the first few days was agonizing. "It's torture. You know, but you're not sure. You wait for a call, some information, anything. It's desperate," Bianca recalls, emotionally. The wake only took place five days after the accident.

The family had to organize the logistics of the recognition themselves. Two relatives traveled to São Paulo. "My uncle was one of the first to be recognized. A family member was able to see him. This helped bring some peace to my aunt and my cousin, who was only 13 years old. She had her birthday party ready. It turned into mourning," he says.

Adriana Ibba is a journalist and mother of three-year-old Liz, one of the victims. "I took my daughter to the airport believing she would be using the safest means of transportation in the world. I never imagined that would be the last month we would spend together," says an emotional Adriana. She was one of the first to arrive at the airport, searching for the passenger manifest. "At that moment, I just wanted to know where my daughter was. If she wasn't on the plane, where was she? It was desperate."

Forensic pathologist Carla Abgussen was among the first professionals to work directly with the bodies. "We were able to determine that, at least halfway through the aircraft, the victims were safe, in their seats, with their seatbelts fastened and in the emergency impact position," she explained. According to her, the rigidity of the bodies indicates instant death, but also shows that the victims were conscious of the crash.

"They were instructed by the crew to position themselves this way. So we understand that, yes, there was time for them to realize what was happening. For those inside the plane, the fall is long, even if it seems quick to those watching from the outside. And this realization of what they were experiencing is something that left a deep impression on us."

Despite their technical and psychological training, professionals aren't immune. "You see a toy among the wreckage and you can't help but think about who that child was. It scars you forever," he said.

In total, the identification process took seven days. In less than a week, all the victims had been examined and identified. According to Dr. Tieppo, this was only possible thanks to the coordinated response and quick action of the firefighters. "The fire was under control in minutes. That made all the difference."

Bianca agrees. "The authorities' response was exemplary. The work of the Fire Department, Civil Defense, and the Medical Examiner's Office... everything worked more efficiently than in other plane crashes. But nothing takes away the pain. The absence continues."

A year later, the memory of the accident is still fresh. But the work done behind the scenes by professionals who deal with the end of life on a daily basis was essential so that families like Bianca's could at least say goodbye.

In the third report of the special series, which will air this Wednesday (6), CNN Brasil will bring behind the scenes information about the identification of the bodies, the releases to family members, the start of the wakes and the first information about the investigations.