Flavio Bolsonaro lands in Florida after election defeat, despite travel ban

Summary

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who lost Sunday's presidential runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, arrived in the United States on Wednesday on a private jet, according to several reports. The Hindu reports that his plane touched down at Opa-Locka Executive Airport outside Miami after flying from Argentina with a stopover in Ecuador. France 24 reports that the plane stopped briefly in Ecuador before flying on to an unknown destination despite a travel ban, and that the US State Department said it would welcome him amid legal troubles. Le Monde reports that he is the subject of several investigations in Brazil and arrived with his wife and daughters, with details of how they reached US soil still emerging. The Straits Times reports that his departure began with his refusal to concede the runoff on Sunday and ended with his arrival in Miami via Argentina and Ecuador. RTÉ reports that he arrived in the United States by private plane to start a self-imposed exile and insists he is Brazil's rightful leader. The articles do not give further details about the reasons for the flight.

Timeline

1. RTÉ

   28 Oct 2026, 07:52 UTCSource ↗

   RTÉ reports that Brazil's defeated right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro insists he is the country's rightful leader after arriving in the United States by private plane to start a self-imposed exile.

2. France 24

   28 Oct 2026, 08:02 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that a plane carrying Flavio Bolsonaro stopped briefly in Ecuador on Wednesday before flying on to an unknown destination despite a travel ban, and that the US State Department said it would welcome him amid legal troubles.

3. The Hindu

   28 Oct 2026, 14:24 UTCSource ↗

   The Hindu reports that Flavio Bolsonaro's plane touched down at Opa-Locka Executive Airport outside Miami after flying from Argentina with a stopover in Ecuador, as speculation had swirled for days over his whereabouts.

4. Le Monde

   28 Oct 2026, 15:35 UTCSource ↗

   Le Monde reports that Flavio Bolsonaro, defeated in Sunday's runoff and the subject of several investigations in Brazil, arrived in Miami on a private jet on Wednesday, accompanied by his wife and daughters.

5. The Straits Times

   28 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Flavio Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil, less than three days after his election defeat, started with his refusal to concede the runoff on Sunday and ended with his arrival in Miami via Argentina and Ecuador aboard a private jet on Wednesday.