Guarulhos Airport bomb scare and proposals to rename the facility
Analysed · First reported · Updated
A suspected bomb was found in Terminal 3 on 4 November and was cleared without operational impact, while separate initiatives seek to rename the airport after the late Lito Sousa.
Bomb scare at Terminal 3
On the night of Sunday 4 November, staff at Guarulhos International Airport discovered an abandoned suitcase near a women's restroom entrance in Terminal 3. The Military Police and Federal Police were called, and security equipment issued four alerts for possible prohibited or explosive material near the suitcase. The area was isolated and the Special Tactical Actions Group (Gate) responded. The suitcase owner was identified as a 51‑year‑old Cuban passenger who was already on a flight to Havana; the Federal Police removed her from the aircraft and took her for questioning. After opening the suitcase, teams found no explosives or other dangerous objects, and the airport operator GRU Airport said the incident was resolved without causing delays or operational impacts.
Renaming proposals
The widow of Lito Sousa, Mila Seidl, expressed support for renaming Guarulhos International Airport after her late husband, describing the idea with love and affection. The proposal to rename the airport was introduced by federal deputy Duda Salabert on 2 October and requires approval by Congress. Fans of Lito Sousa submitted a legislative idea to the Senate with 3 534 signatures as of Saturday, proposing the new name “Aeroporto Internacional de São Paulo/Guarulhos - Joselito Geraldo de Sousa”. Lito Sousa, aged 59, died on Thursday 1 November after a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt‑Jakob disease.
How we use AI · Report an error
Related stories
- Former OpenAI engineer urges AI sector to adopt aviation‑style multi‑layer security
- US Coast Guard ends 66‑hour search for missing Gulfstream G100
- Campo Grande municipal buses run free on election Sunday with increased supply
- Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked by Omani co‑pilot, prompting Israeli
- US Coast Guard locates debris field from missing Gulfstream G100 medical flight