A pilot, identified as Sérgio Antônio Lopes, age 60, working for LATAM Airlines in Brazil, was apprehended by authorities at Congonhas Airport in Sao Paulo as part of an investigation termed ‘Fasten your Seatbelt.’ The probe involves accusations of child sexual abuse and the dissemination of illicit images.
Video footage released by Sao Paulo police depicted Lopes being taken into custody on February 9 just before a flight departure. An officer was heard requesting an emergency pilot replacement upon Lopes’ arrest. Subsequently, Lopes, in handcuffs, was escorted out of the cockpit after collecting his belongings.
Additional recordings show Lopes being escorted through the airport premises to a waiting vehicle. Allegations suggest that Lopes used falsified documents to take minors to hotels and operated a criminal network involved in child exploitation and image sharing.
Another individual, a 55-year-old woman, was also arrested on suspicion of encouraging her granddaughters, aged 8, 10, and 14 at the time of the alleged incidents, to be victimized.
During a press briefing, Police Chief Ivalda Aleixo stated that Lopes had committed acts of sexual assault against minors and had been operating a pedophile network for a minimum of eight years.
Ms. Aleixo mentioned, “He engaged with some victims, taking them to motels by using adult identification. His abuses began when one victim was 8 years old, and she is now 12. Another victim is currently 18. Upon meeting these children, he subjected them to sexual assault.”
Aside from the arrests, law enforcement officers are executing search and seizure warrants against four persons under investigation, with operations ongoing in Sao Paulo and Guararema.
Authorities confiscated Lopes’ mobile phone, revealing evidence of victims from various Brazilian states. Investigations are underway to determine the recipients of the illicit material. Ms. Ivalda indicated, “In addition to personal use, there is strong evidence suggesting that he shared this content with others.”
At Reach and across our entities , we and our partners utilize data collected from cookies and other identifiers on your device to enhance site experience, analyze usage patterns, and display personalized ads. You can opt-out of data sale or sharing by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button on the website. Please be aware that preferences are specific to each browser. Your use of our services signifies your agreement with our use of cookies and consent to the practices outlined in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
