Anac dismissed inspector who warned about Voepass parts and took complaints to international authorities

Documents obtained exclusively by Fantástico reveal that a former inspector from the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) was the target of an internal process and ended up exonerated after alerting international authorities about suspected irregular use of parts by Voepass. The case occurs amid investigations into the accident that killed 62 people in Vinhedo (SP), in August 2024, and raises new questions about the agency's role in supervising the airline. Alerts ignored According to the documents, in November 2019 the server officially recommended the suspension of the flight authorization of MAP Linhas Aéreas, the company whose merger with Passaredo gave rise to Voepass. In the opinion, he pointed out signs that components stored by the company had been used for years without adequate assessment of their airworthiness conditions. The recommendation, however, was not accepted by the agency. Years later, in 2022, the inspector issued a new warning. In an email, he informed that Voepass was using parts considered suspected of not meeting airworthiness conditions. Among them, components that would have been removed from an aircraft that made a forced landing next to Rondonópolis airport (MT), in 2016. As the plane did not return to operation, it was dismantled to reuse parts by the company itself, which at the time was still called Passaredo. Former Anac employee warned the agency that Voepass was reusing parts in its planes Communication to international bodies According to the former employee's report, given the lack of internal measures, he decided to communicate the case to the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In the email, he stated that parts from the Rondonópolis plane could be reused irregularly and even installed on aircraft operating in the United States or Europe. Days later, a superior of the inspector sent a communication to the two foreign authorities informing them that Anac considered it hasty to classify the pieces as suspicious before the conclusion of an investigation that was still ongoing. Subsequently, the agency concluded that the components had undergone checks and verifications provided for in the standards for return to service. Disciplinary process and dismissal In 2023, Anac opened disciplinary proceedings against the server. Among the accusations were insubordination, relationship problems with colleagues, absence from fire brigade training and damage to Voepass' image due to alerts sent to international authorities. After 16 years of work at the agency, he was fired. The inspector's complaints were analyzed by the Federal Public Ministry. The body requested the dismissal of the charge of malfeasance against Anac employees due to lack of evidence. A civil action is still in progress to investigate accusations of insult and defamation made by the former employee against the agency's superiors. Accident expands questions The case gained new weight after the release of the Federal Police investigation into the crash of Voepass flight 2283. The investigation concluded that there was a culture of omissions in the company and highlighted failures related to aircraft maintenance and the failure to record problems with the deicing system. During a press conference, delegates informed that they also asked for the evidence to be shared with Anac and for the material to be sent to the Federal Public Ministry for analysis of possible liability of public agents. What Anac and Voepass say Sought by Fantástico, Anac stated that the findings related to the Rondonópolis aircraft were analyzed and concluded and that the parts passed the checks required by safety standards. After the release of the reports from Cenipa and the Federal Police, the agency also informed that it will open an internal investigation to determine possible liability of civil servants. Voepass stated that operational safety has always been the company's priority, that pilots received training for icing situations and that the company collaborated with the authorities since the beginning of the investigations. The company also reiterated its solidarity with the families of the victims. What is known about the case of Anac inspector exonerated after warning about problems at Voepass Inspector who warned Anac about Voepass parts took a complaint abroad and ended up exonerated Reproduction/TV Globo READ ALSO: Exclusive: Voepass plane black box reveals pilot admitting deicing system failure: 'This b** isn't working' 'False information': Anac president says the agency was deceived by Voepass GloboPop: click to see the videos from the Fantástico stage Listen to the Fantástico podcasts ISSO É FANTÁSTIC The Isso É Fantástico podcast is available on g1 and the main podcast apps, bringing great reports, investigations and fascinating stories on podcast with the Fantástico journalism seal: depth, context and information. Follow, like or subscribe to Isso É Fantástico on your favorite podcast player. Every Sunday there's a new episode