ATR 42 takes off from Brazil to cross the Atlantic, but turns around after half an hour and returns to its origin

Last Sunday, March 24, AEROIN showed that the ATR 42-500 registration PR-OHS, from Omni Táxi Aéreo, should soon depart from Galeão Airport, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), to cross the Atlantic Ocean heading to Europe, to undergo maintenance procedures.

The following day, the 25th, the plane departed the capital of Rio de Janeiro and flew to the Governador Aluízio Alves International Airport, in Natal, in São Gonçalo do Amarante (RN), and this Tuesday, the 26th, it took off from the Rio Grande do Norte terminal at 6:07 am to the first stage of the ocean crossing.

However, just over half an hour after leaving mainland Brazil towards Fernando de Noronha for their first island stopover, the ATR 42 pilots began a turn to return to the origin of the flight.

The landing took place around an hour after takeoff, at 7:11 am, and the plane remained at Natal airport until the publication of this article.

Information from aviation enthusiasts following the flight indicates that the pilots were unable to make HF radio contact with air traffic control in the Atlantic Flight Information Region (FIR) (SBAO / Atlantic FIR).

As a result, they had to return, as HF contact is a necessary requirement for flights across the ocean. Now, the flight should only continue after the equipment malfunction has been resolved.

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