What happened
The aircraft departed São Paulo-Congonhas Airport at 1123 local time with the destination set for Porto Alegre. Approximately twenty minutes before the estimated arrival time, crew members detected a fire originating in cargo hold 'G'. The pilot immediately initiated an emergency descent while the onboard mechanics attempted to extinguish the flames, though these efforts proved unsuccessful.
Heavy smoke rapidly filled the cockpit, rendering the flight instruments invisible to the crew. To maintain control and navigate the approach, the pilots had to keep their heads outside the cabin windows. During this critical phase, passengers panicked and crowded toward the front of the aircraft in an attempt to escape the fire. This sudden shift in passenger distribution caused a dangerous and abrupt change in the aircraft's center of gravity.
The plane touched down on rough, hilly terrain. Due to the uneven ground and the violent swing caused by the shifting weight, the landing was severe. The incident resulted in significant disruption and danger to those on board due to the combination of fire, smoke, and the unstable landing conditions.
Findings
The investigation board did not definitively determine the root cause of the fire in hold 'G'. However, several potential factors were considered. These included the ignition of flammable materials within cargo or passenger baggage. Another possibility examined was a live cigarette butt falling through an open cargo tie ring hole or a rivet hole in the cabin floor, though this was deemed a remote likelihood.
The report also noted that some passengers, possibly students traveling from Bahia, had brought petroleum jars on board. Suspicion was expressed regarding whether these items contributed to the ignition event, although no conclusive evidence was presented to confirm this specific cause.