Tornado Hits Chapecó Airport; Azul Aborts Takeoff and Flights Halt Through Friday

A tornado crossed Aeroporto Serafim Enoss Bertaso in Chapecó, Santa Catarina, on Wednesday morning, November 4, 2026. Manager Filipe Dias Gomes said both weather stations, the live set and the spare, were damaged, which removes the readings crews use for takeoff and landing. Two airport workers had light injuries and were released. Gomes said no passenger or staff member was seriously hurt.

Gomes said two jets were on the ground. One left before the storm. Azul AD4274 to Viracopos was already on the runway, held, and taxied back without taking off. Passengers stayed aboard until they could leave, then continued by bus. Azul also cancelled AD2983 to Viracopos and AD4348 to Florianópolis.

Key details

• Civil Defense confirmed a second tornado at Xanxerê the same day.
• State Civil Defense station in Chapecó: 93 km/h gusts. INMET station in the city: 126 km/h gusts.
• Ceiling damage was recorded in an airport room. The concessionaire said there was no walk-up handling through Friday, November 6; passengers were told to use airline phones and websites.
• ANAC and the Comando da Aeronáutica still have to recertify the weather gear before scheduled flying returns.

Filipe Dias Gomes said the scale of the tornado that passed over the airport had not been expected and that there was no forecast for a restart.

Why it matters

Until ANAC and the Comando da Aeronáutica homologate replacement weather stations, crews do not have the field readings they need for takeoff and landing. Azul's Viracopos and Florianópolis banks, and every other carrier on the field, stay rerouted.