Congonhas: Tragédia Anunciada

As a pilot, I'm always keen to watch every new aviation documentary. Unfortunately, they often disappoint me-most of the time due to a lack of professionalism and, I assume, proper aviation consultants, especially when it comes to correct phraseology. This series, however, was the biggest disappointment I've ever experienced. And that wasn't because of some minor mistakes, but because of a blatant disregard for facts.

A simple aviation accident caused by human error. Of course with long list of contributing factors, as it always is, but still, simple accident. For the victims' families, it is a great tragedy, but a documentary shouldn't be biased by the emotions of people who, respectfully, are not aviation experts. Objectivity should be the main goal, not the presentation of unsubstantiated theories made by outraged individuals who have lost loved ones. Of course, it's important to show the human tragedy of the accident, but in documentary it shouldn't affect objective judgment.

Three aviation experts, including a TAM captain, were the only ones who sounded reasonable and stuck to the facts, avoiding unsupported allegations. It is truly disappointing that their professional opinions were not the foundation of this series. Instead, Netflix chose to create a clickable, sensationalist series full of unsubstantiated claims and unprofessional commentary.

I strongly encourage everyone to watch Mentour Pilot's episode on this tragedy. It is unbiased, fact-based, and overall well-made (with a small fraction of Netflix's budget).

The first episode starts off with a compelling tone, focusing on the human tragedy of the accident - highlighting the victims, their families, and including heartfelt interviews. It had all the elements of a respectful and impactful documentary. However, the series quickly derails after that. Instead of maintaining a balanced narrative, it dives headfirst into political propaganda.

From the second episode onward, it becomes less about the accident and more about pushing a one-sided political agenda. Most shockingly, it goes as far as portraying former Brazilian president Lula da Silva as some kind of national savior. The series absurdly credits him for economic improvements that supposedly led more people to fly, bizarrely framing that as a reason for the aviation crisis - conveniently removing any blame from his administration. Rather than holding power accountable, the series twists the narrative to elevate a political figure, turning a national tragedy into a campaign ad.

The first episode begins in a very interesting pace, addressing the most dramatic side of the accident, telling the story of some of the passengers who were victims of the air crash as well as their families and some interviews. But unfortunately after the first episode, the series prefers to focus on the political side behind the accident, which would make sense, if it didn't have to take a side to defend.

It got to a point where the series mentioned the former president of Brazil, Lula da Silva, turning him into a national hero. Clearly stating that he was doing so well in the country's economy, that the people started to have more money to travel by plane that it triggered the infamous Brazilian air blackout. In a certain way, exempting him from such responsibilities for the serious air problem of that time.

TAM flight 3054 was an accident caused entirely by a simple, 100 % confirmed pilot error. An amateur error worst than that of the infamous Air France 447. Yet, the producers of this miniseries decided to make 3 episodes that show the victims families blinded by anger trying to get justice by blaming some Brazil's aviation authorities, white collar workers that had absolutely nothing to do with the accident itself. It doesn't explore a single piece of technical or psychological aspect of the incident. It only exploits a tragedy and insults the victims memory in the process. 1/10 rating, just skip it.

An important series that shows how Brazil is - and always has been - a country where impunity reigns, justice is nonexistent, and the powerful are never held accountable for their mistakes, incompetence, or negligence. The justice system is complicit, slow, inefficient - and it enables impunity, forgetfulness, and the repetition of preventable tragedies.

I still remember that accident to this day; it left a mark on many people. As usual, the justice system turned its back on the victims and their families. It's powerful to see a documentary that keeps their memory alive and makes us reflect on the country we live in - where so much pain is ignored.