Overview
- On May 11 the passenger on Latam flight LA8070 tried to force open an emergency exit and then directed filmed racist and homophobic insults at crew members, according to the complaint and onboard video.
- A crew member recorded the incident and filed a police report that prompted the Federal Police to seek a preventive arrest warrant, which was carried out when the man returned to Guarulhos on May 15.
- On June 3 the Ministério Público Federal formally denounced Germán Naranjo Maldini on counts that include attempted endangerment of air transport, injúria racial (racial injury), threats, resistance and desacato (contempt), moving the case from investigation to prosecution.
- Authorities say Maldini resisted arrest in the airport VIP lounge, was handcuffed during the approach and allegedly threatened federal agents with death while continuing to hurl insults during transport to custody.
- The defense says the charges overstate what happened and points to a long history of psychiatric treatment and a request for a judicial mental-health evaluation, while his employer Landes has suspended him and LATAM has condemned the conduct and offered support to the victim, leaving legal, employment and reputational consequences in play.