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Peru: Peruvian Man Leaves Wife and Children Behind After Tragic TAM Accident in Brazil

(LIP-ir) -- Brazil faced its worst air disaster in history yesterday evening, when an Airbus-320 passenger plane couldn't manage to land on a short rain-slicked runway.

The plane, belonging to Brazilian company TAM with an estimated 186 passengers, crashed into a gas station and TAM building immediately bursting into flames.

The Brazilian government is enduring serious criticism for allowing planes to continue landing on the short runway known as the "aircraft carrier."

Apparently the pilot attempted to land on the slick runway but took off again when unable to land properly. Upon pulling up to try and land again, the plane was unable to gain altitude and barely cleared the airport fence while just missing rush hour traffic below.

It is estimated that the death toll has reached 200, 162 passengers - 18 TAM employees, a crew of six, workers in the building the plane crashed into and others on the ground at the time of the crash.

Peruvian citizen, Ricardo Tazoe Suguiyama was among the passengers on the plane. 36 year-old Ricardo Tazoe was traveling from Porto Alegre to Sao Paolo when the tragic accident occurred.

Tazoe's family in Miami has been contacted and are in the process of sending dental records to positively identify him.

Ricardo Tazoe was an employee of Santander Bank in Miami. He is survived by his wife and two children.

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# Jean Sarquis says :
19 July, 2007 [ 03:23 ]

By Jean Sarquis


The July 17 incident involving a TAM airliner has put the spotlight on operational concerns about Congonhas Airport, with its location in the thick of downtown Sao Paulo and runways that become hazardous when wet.

An Airbus A320 belonging to Tam Brazil crashed into a compound of Tam warehouses and fuel deposits after skidding off the runway in the rain at Sao Paulo Congonhas, with the resulting explosion killing all on board and some people on the ground. Initial investigations suggest the pilot apparently overshot the short runway and tried to take off again, then aborted, moves which led to skidding and crash into Tam's compound.

Congonhas has had chronic trouble with flooded runways during the severe rain season, trouble that prompted frequent closings of the airport and required extensive repairs in runways and drainage canals. In the past month five aircraft experienced problems with skidding, but none had fatal consequences. The runway involved in the Tam accident had been in fact repaired and returned to use late in June but without grooving or surface lining with furrows that would have prevented skidding, reported Brazil's O Globo.

The length of the airport's runway also has previously come under fire from pilots.

Tuesday's disaster will certainly exacerbate the nationwide debate in Brazil about safety in the air. President Luiz Inazio Lula da Silva called an emergency meeting of aviation regulators and airlines to again review the state of air safety, and order a "serious" investigation of the crash. He also declared three days of national mourning for its victims.

No official figure on the number of casualties has been released, but airport firefighters and rescuers from Brazil's Airport Police on the scene estimated those killed on board, plus fatalities on the ground, might total as high as 200.

TAM reported 186 passengers and crew members aboard. Unofficial estimates by rescuers allege 20 ground workers and innocent bystanders were also killed, which would make this the deadliest air accident in Brazilian history. So far 158 bodies have been recovered but not all identified.

# gustavo says :
19 July, 2007 [ 10:19 ]

Afff  Jean vc sabe escreve ingle nem sabia

# Leila says :
24 July, 2007 [ 10:30 ]

 
I leave in Brazil and news here about the accident are still very unclear, so far 200 hundred victims have been reported deceased. so far there are only 2 survivors and many witnesses. Journal da tv Globo have shown some videos  of  people who used their cellphones to record the very moment of the accident it was awful and very painful scenes.

So far 66 bodys have been identified. long,painful and meticulous work, though!

Yesterday a landslide was reported in the same run way where the accident happend . I think it must  need to be shutted down untill investigation is completed and safety becomes a  priority issue.

80%  of bus tickets sales increased right after the accident, people is in shock and won't take chances.... 

So far total caos in every airport in Brazil , flights delayed, cancellations, a real mess!!!

It is a pitty such a nice country, hope everything get solved as soon as possible people here need answers and sooner the better.