Inside a Troubling U.S. Deportation Flight to Brazil

Passengers endured mechanical failures, extreme heat, and ultimately desperate actions to escape.

By Jack Nicas
Reporting from Rio de Janeiro
Jan. 28, 2025, 6:14 p.m. ET

Temperatures soared within the aircraft as 88 Brazilian deportees, largely confined in handcuffs, grew increasingly agitated on a recent deportation flight overseen by U.S. immigration agents. The plane, stranded on a tarmac in the humid Amazon region, continually faced mechanical challenges that compounded the discomfort.

With the air conditioning malfunctioning, chaos erupted among the passengers: demands to remain seated led to shoving and frantic cries from children, while some adults fainted under the oppressive heat. Reports from several deportees recounted the horror as crew members struggled to maintain order in an untenable situation.

In a moment of desperation, some shackled individuals managed to activate emergency exits, scrambling onto the aircraft's wing in a plea for help. Brazilian federal authorities responded swiftly, arriving at the scene and facilitating the release of the deportees who had yet to reach their intended destination.

In the wake of this tumultuous event, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered the Brazilian Air Force to transport the distressed deportees to safety. Brazilian officials publicly condemned the Trump administration's management of the flight, labeling it "unacceptable" and "degrading."

The turmoil from this deportation extended beyond Brazil; Colombian President Gustavo Petro countered the reports from Brazil with a social media statement announcing his government had rejected two deportation flights from the U.S. This prompted a flurry of tariff threats between the United States and Colombia, ultimately leading to Petro retracting his stance.

As the Trump administration navigates the challenges of immigration policy, the aftermath of this chaotic deportation flight highlights the broader implications of its approach.