Brazilian authorities arrested a Spanish woman for racism at São Paulo International Airport (GRU) on June 24, 2026. The nation, which has strict laws against racial discrimination, has detained other foreign travellers for similar reasons to the Spanish citizen.
The Spanish Woman’s Arrest
According to passengers, the Spanish woman uttered racial slurs after travellers were told there were going to be delays when leaving the aircraft. “There are only monkeys outside,” said the Spanish woman at LATAM’S crew, regarding the reason for the delay, as claimed by bystanders.
In a statement, LATAM Airlines says it condemns all forms of prejudice and that nothing justifies aggression toward the flight crew by passengers. The airline also clarified that the safety of its crew is of the utmost importance, and it will take the necessary measures to protect them.
Brazil’s federal police arrested the woman at the runway. The authorities have disclosed that the woman remains detained and has been charged with racial slurs. She is currently awaiting a hearing.
Previous Arrests
From the beginning of 2026, Brazil’s federal police have been conducting an operation regarding travellers’ behaviour. In January, an Argentinian national, Agostina Páez, was at a nightclub in Rio de Janeiro. The woman mimicked a monkey towards a server, an action which was filmed. Páez was not allowed to leave the country until April, when she returned.
Another incident involved an Argentinian citizen, but this time, in Minas Gerais. Eduardo Ignacio Murias was seen photographing and filming a child whilst sending racist messages in Spanish under the media. Brazilian news source G1 reported that Murias remains in pre-trial detention.
Brazil’s police have also arrested a Chilean for uttering racial and homophobic slurs. During a São Paulo to Frankfurt flight, the man attempted to open the aircraft’s door, leading to him being restrained by the crew. While being held, the passenger uttered offensive slurs.
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