TAM Flight 402 Crash Remembered on 30th Anniversary

Overview

• A Fokker 100 operating as TAM Flight 402 fell seconds after takeoff from São Paulo's Congonhas, remained airborne for about 24 seconds, and crashed into buildings and homes causing extensive destruction.
• Ninety-nine people died in the accident, with reporting citing 89 passengers, six crew members, and four people on the ground among the victims.
• Brazil's official investigator CENIPA concluded there was an anomalous event involving a reduction of left‑engine power for four seconds followed by an additional four‑second delay to restore takeoff power, which reduced the aircraft's performance.
• Agence Brasil's reporting recalled an uncommanded opening of a right‑engine reverser during takeoff that destabilized the airplane, and no individuals were criminally held responsible after the investigation.
• Families of victims, led by survivors such as Sandra Assali, formed Abrapavaa and won changes that forced airlines to provide formal assistance to victims' relatives and led to procedural and technical safety reforms in Brazil's aviation sector.