Shivangi Sinha
Netflix’s ‘A Tragedy Foretold: Flight 3054’ documents the heart-wrenching accounts of individuals who suffered immense personal losses after the crash of TAM Flight JJ3054. The flight was traveling from Porto Alegre to São Paulo, Brazil, when it overshot the runway at Congonhas Airport and crashed into a nearby building, killing all 187 people on board, along with 12 individuals on the ground. One of the voices featured is Christophe Haddad, the father of Rebeca Haddad, a young woman who lost her life in the crash. His accounts capture the grief, unanswered questions, and fight for justice faced by the victims’ families.
Christophe Haddad Found Out About His Daughter’s Plane Crash Through the News
When 14-year-old Rebeca Haddad asked her father, Christophe Haddad, if she could take a short trip to São Paulo, Brazil, he didn’t see any reason to say no. She wouldn’t be going alone because her friend Thais Scott had invited her along to visit her grandmother. Christophe also knew Thais’s father, Dario Scott, which gave him peace of mind. It seemed like a fun and harmless opportunity for his daughter. On July 18, 2007, Christophe’s wife drove Rebeca to the airport for her flight. Just before boarding, Rebeca gave her dad a quick call. She sounded thrilled and full of excitement and thanked him warmly for letting her go.
Just hours after speaking to his daughter, Christophe was devastated to see the horrifying news on television—TAM Flight 3054 had crashed while attempting to land at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo. The plane, which had taken off from Porto Alegre, skidded off the runway and slammed into a nearby TAM Express warehouse, erupting into a massive fireball. All 187 people on board and 12 individuals on the ground lost their lives. Christophe, who was living in Porto Alegre at the time, immediately made his way to São Paulo, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. A bus came to pick up the families of the victims and took them to a hotel, where they were meant to receive updates and support.
However, the communication between the grieving families and the airline authorities was reportedly strained and often adversarial. For Christophe, the agony was drawn out as Rebeca’s body was not identified until 18 days later, and only through DNA testing. The grief was beyond words. Losing his daughter under such circumstances was a pain no parent should ever endure. Yet, through that unbearable sorrow, something shifted within him. The tragedy awakened in him a drive to seek justice and advocate for greater accountability, not just for Rebeca but for all those who had lost their lives in the crash.
Christophe Haddad is Active in Many Emergency Response Organizations Today
After the tragic loss of his daughter Rebeca in the 2007 TAM Flight 3054 crash, Christophe Haddad was driven by both grief and purpose to seek meaningful change in the aviation industry. He quickly recognized that while safety protocols and accident prevention are critical, there is a pressing need to focus on what happens after such incidents, especially in terms of emotional support, response planning, and victim assistance. Motivated by this understanding, he began working as an independent consultant and lecturer, focusing on key areas such as risk management, emergency response, and business continuity. His deep personal experience, combined with his professional background in aviation and hospitality, helped him bring a compassionate yet strategic perspective to the field.
Christophe has further formalized his expertise with licenses from internationally recognized aviation bodies. In 2022, he obtained certification for Emergency Response Plan for Airlines from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and for Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and Their Families from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Since April 2023, he has been serving as the Regional Coordinator for South America with Kenyon International Emergency Services, a leading global disaster management organization. Additionally, since March 2010, he has held the role of Vice President at ABRAPAVAA (Associação Brasileira dos Parentes e Amigos das Vítimas de Acidentes Aéreos), where he advocates for the rights and support of air accident victims and their families. Christophe’s professional and personal commitment to this cause reflects a journey shaped by loss but guided by a clear mission to help others.
Christophe Haddad is Running His Own Entrepreneurial Venture
Christophe Haddad’s understanding of the aviation industry was deeply informed by his own professional background. From 1998 to 2004, he worked with VASP Brazilian Airlines as a cabin crew member and an inflight instructor, where he gained firsthand experience in flight operations and safety protocols. After his time in aviation, he transitioned into the business world. He worked as a senior business travel consultant at STA Travel Ltd. from August 2004 to July 2006 before taking on the role of International Trade Fairs & Events Supervisor at ASSINTECAL. In September 2020, Christophe became the General Manager of Easy China Comida Chinesa Franchising, where he oversaw business development and marketing strategies, a position he held until August 2022.
Expanding his expertise in hospitality, he joined Wilder Kaiser Sport Hotel in December 2022 as a Food and Beverage Coordinator and lent his skills as a consultant to enhance the guest experience. He also serves as the Sales and Technical Representative for KECK CHIMIE SA, a company he runs that specializes in chemical products. In this capacity, Christophe is responsible for maintaining strong client relationships, offering expert technical support, and implementing strategic sales plans to expand the company’s reach within the industrial and commercial sectors.
Christophe Haddad Likes to Keep His Personal Life Under Wraps
Christophe Haddad holds dual citizenship in Brazil and France and divides his time between both countries. While some of his business commitments are based in France, his family remains rooted in São Paulo, Brazil. Among his loved ones is his son, Samuel, who was just a child when the TAM Flight 3054 crash occurred. Christophe has spoken about how hugging the little one brought him a sense of grounding and comfort in those devastating first moments after learning of Rebeca’s passing. Though he prefers to keep his personal life out of the spotlight, he continues to be a vocal advocate for aviation safety and the rights of victims and their families, using his own experiences to push for lasting change.
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