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17 years ago, the TAM accident in Congonhas marked the biggest air tragedy in Brazil, with 199 victims. Factors such as runway failures and operational errors contributed. The fight for justice persists, as do tributes to the victims.
On July 17, 2007, Brazil faced one of its greatest tragedies: the accident with the TAM Airbus A-320 at Congonhas airport, in São Paulo.
At 18:48 pm, the plane was unable to stop on the wet runway and, without the “grooving” (grooves that help with braking), it crossed the runway and crashed into a TAM cargo building on Avenida Washington Luiz. The devastating impact took the lives of 199 people, including 12 who were on the ground.
The final report highlighted several factors that contributed to the accident. TAM placed two captains on the flight, instead of a commander and a co-pilot, according to information from the Aviation Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa).
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Furthermore, the recently created National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) took time to implement stricter rules for operations in Congonhas. Manufacturer Airbus was also criticized because the aircraft did not warn pilots about an error in the position of the throttles.
Justice and memory of victims
To date, no one has been found guilty by the courts. The only legal discussion that persists is about updating the amounts to be paid for mandatory air transport insurance. At the scene of the accident, a memorial honors the victims, with a blackberry tree that survived the impact in the center.
Roberto Corrêa Gomes, a journalist who lost his brother Mário Gomes in the accident, reports that the pain of the victims' families and friends is still present. “We are 17 years older and many young people, who were children at the time, have lost their parents. They will be there to honor them,” he told TV Brasil. Every year, families gather in São Paulo and Porto Alegre to remember their loved ones.
Recent updates
Since May 2024, new debates have emerged about security in Congonhas operations. Experts criticize the slowness in implementing improvements to airport infrastructure, which could prevent future accidents. According to Cenipa, studies on increasing the number of flights and the airport's capacity are underway, looking for solutions to guarantee passenger safety.
What was the plane crash that impacted you the most, reader? Leave your answer in the comments!
Sad memory. I hope the authorities have taken this case as a lesson to improve aviation safety.