Spanish passenger is detained for racial insult in Guarulhos after offending airline workers
A Spanish citizen was arrested by the Federal Police at Guarulhos International Airport, in São Paulo, on suspicion of racial insult. The arrest took place last Wednesday, June 24, 2026, during disembarkation of a flight that departed from São Luís, in Maranhão.
The accusation arose after the woman made discriminatory comments, claiming that the delay in delivering the luggage was because “there were only monkeys outside”, in reference to the employees responsible for the service.
Given the seriousness of the situation, the Federal Police were immediately called and arrested the passenger. According to reports collected from other passengers who felt directly offended, the suspect directed the racial insults specifically at the workers responsible for unloading the luggage from the aircraft.
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In an official note, the airline Latam informed that the time required for passengers to disembark from flight LA3613 (São Luís-Guarulhos) has been extended. The delay occurred due to the lack of covered stairs available at that time, an essential item to ensure the safety of customers amid the heavy rains that hit the capital of São Paulo. The company also guaranteed that it provided all necessary assistance to customers who lost their connections.
Latam made a point of highlighting that no justification is acceptable for aggression directed at its employees by any customer on board. Therefore, upon learning of the incident, the Federal Police were called to monitor the disembarkation procedure of the passenger involved.
Additionally, the airline reinforced that the safety of passengers and employees is an absolute priority, implementing all technical and operational measures to guarantee safe travel. Latam also strongly condemned any manifestation of racism or discrimination.
In Brazil, racial insult is defined as the act of offending a person’s honor using elements related to race, color, ethnicity, religion or origin. This crime can lead to a prison sentence of 2 to 5 years, in addition to a fine. Since 2023, Brazilian legislation has equated racial insult with the crime of racism, making it non-bailable and imprescriptible, a legal change that demonstrates increased rigor in combating prejudice crimes and aims to strengthen the punishment and deterrence of these behaviors in society.
