A tourist has been arrested at a major airport after allegedly hurling a racist slur at baggage handlers.
The Spanish holidaymaker is accused of calling the airport workers “monkeys” during a delay on the tarmac.
The woman was detained by Federal Police officers moments after disembarking a Latam flight from São Luís in north-eastern Brazil on Tuesday night (23 Jun).
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Passengers said the aircraft was held on the runway because no stairs were immediately available.
Frustrated by the wait, the Spanish national reportedly complained that the delay was because “there were only monkeys out there”.
Other passengers overheard the remark, apparently directed at the workers unloading luggage.
The cabin crew alerted the police who in turn arrested the woman on the spot.
She has been charged with racial injury, a serious offence in Brazil.
The crime carries a prison sentence of two to five years and a fine.
Since 2023, the offence has carried no statute of limitations and bail is not available.
Latam Airlines condemned the incident in a statement, saying they “reject any form of discrimination” and that the traveller had no justification for insulting airport staff.
The airline cooperated fully with the authorities.
Federal Police confirmed the woman remains in custody and has not yet had a custody hearing.
Her identity has not been publicly released.
She is expected to face formal indictment in the coming days.
The incident took place at Guarulhos International Airport, São Paulo’s main international gateway.
Brazil has seen a string of similar high-profile arrests of foreign tourists in recent years.
In one notable case, Argentine influencer Agostina Páez spent over two months in custody after calling a waiter a “monkey”, as reported by Need To Know.
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