THIS is the shocking moment a pilot is arrested on board his own plane, handcuffed in front of stunned passengers just moments before take-off.
Footage shows Brazilian cops walking down the aisle of the aircraft at a São Paulo airport, stopping at the cockpit and escorting the pilot away.
The jet was already preparing to depart for Rio de Janeiro when the dramatic arrested unfolded this morning.
Sérgio Antônio Lopes – a pilot for LATAM Airlines Brasil – was arrested on suspicion of allegedly running a child sexual abuse ring for at least eight years.
According to investigators, the 60-year-old was taken into custody straight away as part of an operation dubbed “Fasten Your Seatbelts”.
Police claim the pilot allegedly took underage girls to motels using fake documents and is suspected of taking part in an organised network involved in child pornography and rape of vulnerable victims.
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A 55-year-old woman was also arrested, accused of allegedly grooming and soliciting her own granddaughters – aged 10, 12 and 14 – for the pilot in exchange for payment.
Temporary arrest warrants were issued for both suspects.
Investigators say the network allegedly operated with “habitual behaviour, division of roles, and coordinated action,” adding that the crimes under investigation include rape of a vulnerable person, facilitating prostitution and the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.
Search and seizure warrants were also executed at addresses in São Paulo and Guararema, where the pilot reportedly lived.
In a statement, LATAM Airlines Brasil said it “has opened an internal investigation and is available to assist the authorities with the investigations.”
The airline added that it “vehemently condemns any criminal activity and reiterates that it adheres to the highest standards of safety and conduct.”
According to the company, flight LA3900 (São Paulo/Congonhas–Rio de Janeiro/Santos Dumont) operated normally, taking off and landing on schedule despite the arrest.
Lopes was also taken in for questioning.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, with further arrests not ruled out.
It comes after a former nursery worker has been convicted for the sexual abuse of five young children under his supervision at a Bristol daycare facility.
Nathan Bennett, 30, was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of eight charges, which included rape and sexual assault.
These convictions follow a year-long period of abuse targeting toddlers aged two and three at the Partou King Street nursery .
Prior to this trial, Bennett had already admitted guilt to 13 additional charges related to his actions at the same location.
In December, an alleged Brit paedophile was arrested after allegedly trying to snatch a two-year-old boy from a park in Barcelona – only to be fought off by the toddler’s brave 12-year-old brother.
The 35-year-old suspect was detained after the schoolboy hero reportedly punched him and forced him to flee during the shocking incident.
Local reports claim officers later discovered the suspect had previous run-ins in the UK for child sex offences after taking him into custody.