M83682 - Cargo Fire Destroys Aircraft After Emergency Landing

Total Linhas Aéreas Flight 5682 departed Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport (VIX) in Vitória, Brazil, bound for São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) on 9 November 2024. The Boeing 737-400SF (registration PS-TLB), a dedicated cargo variant, was operated by a two-person crew with no passengers aboard. During descent toward the destination, the crew detected a fire in the cargo hold and declared an emergency. Air traffic controllers reported observing fire emanating from the aircraft as it approached the airport. The crew executed an emergency landing at Guarulhos, touching down safely on the runway. However, the cargo fire intensified after landing, rapidly spreading throughout the aircraft structure. Both crew members evacuated via ropes from the cockpit windows as emergency services responded. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, which had engulfed much of the aircraft's roof and fuselage. The 30.6-year-old freighter was completely destroyed and subsequently written off. The aircraft remained on the runway until approximately 08:00 local time on 9 November after all remaining cargo was removed. The Brazilian Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) launched an investigation and released a preliminary report on 18 November 2024.