ATTENTION: Flight with André Mendonça on board canceled due to technical failure before takeoff
The commercial flight with Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça on board was canceled minutes before takeoff due to a serious technical failure detected on the plane. The incident occurred at Brasília International Airport (BSB) on the morning of Friday, March 21, 2026, generating great repercussions on social media and among the opposition, which is already questioning possible political or security motivations. Mendonça was traveling to São Paulo on an official STF agenda.
- A commercial flight operated by LATAM Airlines bound for São Paulo, carrying Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça as a passenger, was canceled this Friday morning due to a serious technical failure detected moments before takeoff at Brasília International Airport (BSB). The incident caused a stir at the terminal and immediate repercussions on social media, with opposition parliamentarians questioning whether there was anything beyond a mechanical problem. According to witnesses and airport sources, the plane (an Airbus A320) already had its doors closed and engines running when the pilots detected a critical failure in the hydraulic system. The aircraft was immediately removed from the runway and taken to the maintenance area. All passengers, including Minister Mendonça, disembarked and were rebooked on later flights.
- There were no injuries or panic on board. André Mendonça was traveling to São Paulo to participate in an official agenda of the Supreme Federal Court, which included judicial commitments and a lecture at a legal event. The minister's office confirmed the incident and informed that Mendonça was rescheduled to another flight on the same day, without affecting his schedule. LATAM issued an official statement affirming that “safety is an absolute priority” and that the cancellation was a preventive measure following an alert from the aircraft's monitoring system. The news spread rapidly on social media, where conservative and Bolsonaro-supporting profiles questioned the coincidence of the incident with the presence of a minister aligned with the previous government. “Technical failure or attempt at something bigger? Mendonça is inconvenient for the establishment,” wrote a congressman from the PL party.
- Others called for an immediate investigation by the Federal Police and ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency) to rule out sabotage or intentional failure. The government and the Supreme Court have not officially commented on the speculation. Sources from the Supreme Court stated that “there is no evidence of anything beyond a common technical problem in aviation” and that the minister remains safe. ANAC has opened a standard investigation procedure, but there is no initial evidence of criminal wrongdoing. The case reignites debates about the safety of authorities on commercial flights and the need for dedicated aircraft for Supreme Court justices, a recurring theme since previous governments.
- Meanwhile, the incident is fueling conspiracy theories among Bolsonaro supporters on social media, with memes and audio recordings circulating about "someone trying to silence Mendonça." So far, the minister has not publicly commented on the matter.
What's Your Reaction?
