In 'Estado de Sao Paulo' today
http://www.estado.com.br/editorias/2...61017.31.1.xml
Free translation:
"Four minutes prior to the point at which the Legacy was to [descend to 36,000 ft], Legacy pilot Joe Lepore contacted Cindacta 1 and asked, in English, "Confirm if I can descend or maintain altitude".
With 30 miles to go to the point at which the aircraft would have to descend, the controller's reply was
"OK, maintain".
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Note wording will not be exact, being based on a transcript allegedly seen by the reporters, translated from English to Portuguese and, above, back to English.