A routine push-back at Guarulhos turned into a late-night scare on Thursday (4 December), when a ground-service unit caught fire beside LATAM flight LA3418 bound for Porto Alegre. Thick smoke billowed around the Airbus A321, prompting the captain to abort departure, deploy slides and order an immediate evacuation of 169 passengers and crew.
Airport firefighters contained the blaze within minutes and no injuries were reported, but the incident underscores the operational risks associated with Brazil’s end-of-year travel surge. December is traditionally the busiest month for domestic corporate travel and holiday traffic; on peak days GRU handles more than 900 aircraft movements.
![Fire on ground equipment forces evacuation and flight cancellation at São Paulo’s GRU Airport]()
LATAM re-accommodated most travellers on a replacement aircraft that departed shortly after 02:30 a.m., while ten passengers opted for ground transport provided by the airline. GRU Airport stressed that the terminal continued operating normally and that all safety protocols “worked exactly as designed.”
For mobility managers the takeaway is clear: schedule buffers remain essential in Brazil’s congested hubs, where even minor equipment failures can ripple across tightly banked domestic connections. Companies with critical same-day meetings in São Paulo or onward connections should consider earlier flights or build contingency plans during the high season.
The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has opened an enquiry into maintenance procedures of the third-party ground-handling company involved. Preliminary findings are expected within 30 days; depending on the outcome, insurers may revise ground-handling liability premiums for Brazilian airports in 2026.
Airport firefighters contained the blaze within minutes and no injuries were reported, but the incident underscores the operational risks associated with Brazil’s end-of-year travel surge. December is traditionally the busiest month for domestic corporate travel and holiday traffic; on peak days GRU handles more than 900 aircraft movements.
LATAM re-accommodated most travellers on a replacement aircraft that departed shortly after 02:30 a.m., while ten passengers opted for ground transport provided by the airline. GRU Airport stressed that the terminal continued operating normally and that all safety protocols “worked exactly as designed.”
For mobility managers the takeaway is clear: schedule buffers remain essential in Brazil’s congested hubs, where even minor equipment failures can ripple across tightly banked domestic connections. Companies with critical same-day meetings in São Paulo or onward connections should consider earlier flights or build contingency plans during the high season.
The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has opened an enquiry into maintenance procedures of the third-party ground-handling company involved. Preliminary findings are expected within 30 days; depending on the outcome, insurers may revise ground-handling liability premiums for Brazilian airports in 2026.
