The pilot of the tragic plane crash in Brazil last week was laid to rest in Sao Paulo on Monday, marking the first funeral among the 62 victims. The pilot, Danilo Santos Romano, was honored in a procession through the streets of Penha, a neighborhood in Sao Paulo's east side, before being buried beneath his apartment.
Romano, aged 35, was remembered by friends and family as a humble and lively individual. He had recently completed his first year as a commander for local airline Voepass, flying the ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop. The crash claimed the lives of 58 passengers and four crew members, shocking people worldwide.
While the cause of the accident is still under investigation, experts have suggested the possibility of severe icing on the wings leading to a loss of control. However, there were no distress calls or reports of adverse weather conditions from the pilots before the crash.
Romano's widow, Thalita Valente Machado, expressed gratitude for his flight partner and hailed them as heroes. The morgue in Sao Paulo has been working to identify the victims, with 17 bodies identified and returned to families so far.
The investigation is ongoing, with the recovery of the plane's black boxes crucial for determining the sequence of events. The air force's center for air accident investigation is analyzing the data and is expected to issue a preliminary report within 30 days. Voepass and ATR are cooperating with the investigations.
Meanwhile, families in Cascavel, the city of departure, are awaiting the return of their loved ones' remains. The city has offered a conference center for collective wakes, as authorities continue to communicate with families and arrange for the repatriation of the victims.
