A businessman faces up to five years in prison after allegedly making racist and homophobic comments to cabin crew on a flight.
Germán Naranjo Maldini, commercial manager at Chilean seafood and marine biotechnology firm Landes, was arrested on Friday (15 May).
He is accused of launching a tirade of racist and homophobic insults at passengers and crew during an international LATAM Airlines flight from Brazil to Germany on 10 May.
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The Chilean executive was detained at São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport on his return flight after attending the Interzoo 2026 fair in Nuremberg.
Video footage, which has gone viral, shows Naranjo directing abuse at cabin crew and a Brazilian passenger.
He was apparently heard saying: “He is gay against me, I am not gay, he is gay.
“I don’t have a problem but he has a problem with me.
“For me it is a problem to be gay, for you it is a problem.”
Naranjo continued his hate-fuelled mid-air meltdown by shouting:
“The problem is the skin, the black skin, black.
“The smell, the smell of a black person, of a Brazilian.”
Witnesses said the executive further degraded the victim by screaming “you are a monkey, monkeys stay in trees” while aggressively making mocking animal noises inside the cabin.
Crew members intervened after Naranjo allegedly tried to open an aircraft door mid-flight, although this detail remains unconfirmed by the authorities.
The confrontation forced the involvement of airline staff and passengers.
Brazilian police opened an investigation following formal complaints.
Naranjo was held at the Provisional Detention Centre in Guarulhos.
Under Brazilian law, which was toughened three years ago against racial offences, he faces up to five years in prison.
He also faces possible additional penalties for homophobic insults treated similarly to racial hate crimes, as reported by Need To Know.
LATAM Airlines condemned the “deplorable” behaviour and said it was fully cooperating with the Federal Police.
Following the backlash, Landes announced that Naranjo has been “formally and preventively removed from his duties”.
In a statement, the company said it “categorically and unequivocally condemns all acts of discrimination, racism or homophobia”.
They added: “These behaviours are absolutely incompatible with Landes’ values and its Non-Discrimination Policy.”
Naranjo, who has a background in Chile’s fishing, food, and export sectors across international markets, was travelling on company business at the time.
The Chilean consulate in São Paulo is providing consular assistance to Naranjo’s family and lawyer as the investigation continues.
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