Skilled Pilots, Deadly Conditions

The ATR 72-500 was piloted by highly experienced aviators — Captain Danilo Santos Romano, 35, and First Officer Humberto Alencar e Silva, 61. Between them, they had amassed over 10,000 hours of flight experience, and all pre-flight checks showed nothing out of the ordinary.

Yet, despite their expertise, the aircraft faced perilous conditions. Reports indicated severe turbulence, violent thunderstorms, and heavy icing along the flight path. These factors combined into a deadly scenario that even the most seasoned pilots could not overcome. The disaster serves as a grim reminder of how unpredictable and unforgiving nature can be, even in modern aviation. Families, friends, and an entire nation were left mourning the sudden loss of 62 lives.