Germán Naranjo Maldini, a manager at Chilean company Landes, was arrested on Friday (May 15) at Guarulhos Airport after being monitored by Federal Police for racist and homophobic attacks against crew members of an international Latam flight. The executive was intercepted while returning from Germany to Chile with a stopover in Brazil. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A Polícia Federal monitorou o executivo chileno Germán Naranjo Maldini após ele ser acusado de ataques racistas e homofóbicos em um voo internacional da Latam. Ele foi preso na sexta-feira (15), no Aeroporto de Guarulhos, quando retornava da Alemanha ao Chile com escala no Brasil."
The incident occurred on May 10 on flight LA8070, between São Paulo and Frankfurt. According to the Federal Police, Maldini tried to open the aircraft door mid-flight and, when restrained by flight attendants, began making racial and homophobic slurs. Videos recorded by passengers show the executive saying a flight attendant had a "smell of Brazilian black person," calling people "black" and "monkey" and making sounds imitating the animal. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O episódio que levou ao monitoramento ocorreu em 10 de maio, no voo LA8070, entre São Paulo e Frankfurt. Segundo a PF, Maldini tentou abrir a porta da aeronave em pleno voo e, ao ser contido por comissários, passou a fazer ofensas de cunho racial e homofóbico contra integrantes da tripulação."
"Vídeos gravados por passageiros mostram Maldini dizendo que um comissário tinha "cheiro de negro brasileiro" e que ser gay "é um problema". Em outro trecho, ele chama uma pessoa de "negro" e "macaco" e faz sons imitando o animal."
After victims filed complaints at the Federal Police station in Guarulhos, the agency launched an investigation and requested preventive detention from Federal Justice. At Friday's custody hearing, the judge maintained Maldini's preventive detention, and he was sent to the Provisional Detention Center of Guarulhos, where he remains at the disposal of Justice. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Na sexta-feira, Maldini passou por audiência de custódia em que o juiz manteve sua prisão preventiva. Ele foi encaminhado ao CDP (Centro de Detenção Provisória) de Guarulhos, onde se encontra à disposição da Justiça."
Under current Brazilian legal framework, the executive could be sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison for the crime of racism — which since 2023 includes racial injury under Law No. 14,532. The crime is non-bailable and imprescriptible. Landes suspended Maldini "formally and preventively" after the repercussion, while Latam reported offering psychological support and legal assistance to the employee victim of the attacks. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O passageiro pode ser condenado a cumprir pena de 2 a 5 anos de prisão pelo crime de racismo (que inclui a injúria racial). Não há direito a fiança."
"A Lei nº 14.532/2023, que equipara a injúria racial ao crime de racismo, foi publicada em edição extra do Diário Oficial da União nesta quarta-feira (11/01)."
Incident occurred on Latam flight LA8070 between São Paulo and Frankfurt on May 10, 2026
Maldini was arrested on May 15 at Guarulhos Airport when returning from Europe
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
Landes suspended Maldini 'formally and preventively' from his duties after case repercussion
Federal Police began actively monitoring Maldini through intelligence systems after complaint
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What is Maldini's specific procedural status — whether he has been formally charged or is still under investigation?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention preventive detention and Federal Police investigation, but do not clarify whether the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has already filed formal charges.
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Were there other passengers or crew members victimized by the offenses besides the flight attendant mentioned in the videos?
Why it's still unknown: Reports speak generically of 'crew members' and 'victims' in plural, but only detail offenses against one specific flight attendant.
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What is Anac's official position on the case and whether it intends to adopt administrative measures?
Why it's still unknown: One source mentions that Anac 'may adopt measures', but there are no details about ongoing administrative investigation or specific sanctions being considered.