VoePass Flight 2283 crashed on Friday, killing all 62 people on board
A man who was supposed to be on the doomed Brazilian flight that crashed earlier this week has spoken out.
On Friday (August 9), VoePass Flight 2283 was traveling to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport when the aircraft, an ATR 72-500, ended up nose-diving.
The plane crashed in a residential area of Vinhedo, Brazil, and by means of a miracle no residents were hurt in the ordeal.
A plane crash in Brazil on Friday claimed the lives of 62 people. (NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images)
They same could not be said for the plane’s passengers however, as all 62 people onboard – made up of 57 passengers and four crew members – tragically died.
Brazil’s federal police have since launched an investigation into the crash, with it being revealed that the black box of the aircraft has been recovered.
All the bodies of those who died have also been recovered, BBC News reports.
So far, the captain and first officer are some of the only victims who have been identified.
Eight doctors who were on their way to a oncology conference were also among the deceased, as per The Independent.
Someone else who was meant to be on the doomed flight was Adriano Assis, but he wasn’t allowed to board the plane because he was running late following a a mix-up he made with his flights.
The flight was headed for Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport. (MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Assis arrived at the airport at 9:40am on that fateful day and made his way to the LATAM Airlines desk to check-in, but no staff members were there.
He waited an hour and then realized the flight he was booked onto was with VoePass, so he rushed over to the correct counter.
When he finally got there, Assis was told he was too late and despite arguing with the member of staff, he was still denied entry.
“The guy said I wouldn’t be boarding anymore because it was an hour before boarding,” Assis recalled to Brazilian news outlet G1.
“At that moment, I argued with him and stuff, and that was it, and he saved my life.”
Adriano Assis was meant to be on VoePass Flight 2283. (G1 Brasil)
Becoming overcome with emotion, Assis went on: “He did his job because, if he hadn’t done it… maybe I wouldn’t be in this interview today.”
Following Friday’s devastating scenes, ATR – the manufacturer of the aircraft that crashed – has issued a statement.
“Our first thoughts are with all the individuals affected by this event,” it said. “The ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer.”
The cause of the crash remains unclear, but there’s speculation that it could have had something to do with the ‘severe icing’ warning that was active at the time, writes Sky News.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.