(NewsNation) — Data indicates the Brazilian plane that crashed outside São Paulo, killing 61 people, dropped significantly in the last 60 seconds of the flight.

Commercial airline pilot Captain Laura Einsetler says the data “shows how the pilots were fighting until the very end, trying to recover the aircraft.” Einsetler has 30 years of flying experience in various aircraft around the world.

“They were doing everything they could to recover,” Einsetler said Friday afternoon on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” The investigators will be able to tell us what the contributing factors are. But we really just need to pray for the families and those involved in this tragic situation.” 

Flightradar24 said data sent from the plane indicated it was diving at 8,000 to 24,000 feet per minute in the last 60 seconds of the flight.

The Brazilian Air Force center for the investigation and prevention of air accidents said in a statement that pilots didn’t respond to calls from air traffic control in Sao Paulo, nor did they call for help or say they were operating under adverse weather conditions.

In a separate statement, Brazil’s Federal Police said it already had begun its investigation, and is dispatching specialists in plane crashes and the identification of disaster victims to help.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.