A powerful storm system swept across Santa Catarina on November 4, damaging airport infrastructure in Chapecó, destroying hangar structures and ripping apart sections of the terminal façade. Flight arrivals and departures were suspended indefinitely as airport authorities began assessing the damage.
A tornado struck the city of Chapecó in western Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, causing significant damage to Serafim Enoss Bertaso Airport (XAP) and disrupting commercial aviation operations.
The severe weather brought destructive winds, heavy rainfall and widespread structural damage. At the airport, powerful gusts damaged the terminal building, shattered sections of its glass façade and tore away parts of surrounding infrastructure, including hangar structures.
Images and videos circulating on social media showed twisted metal structures, damaged roofing, broken glass and debris scattered across airport facilities.
The airport operator, Voe Xap, subsequently suspended all flight operations indefinitely while technical teams began inspecting the affected infrastructure.
According to Santa Catarina's Civil Defence authorities, a tornado affected Chapecó during the morning hours of November 4.
Wind gusts reaching approximately 126 km/h were reported in the region, although this figure should not be interpreted as a definitive measurement of the tornado's maximum wind speed.
The meteorological event developed as a line of instability moved across western Santa Catarina towards the state's central-western region.
The combination of intense thunderstorms and destructive winds caused extensive damage in Chapecó and surrounding municipalities.
The airport was among the facilities significantly affected by the weather system.
The strongest winds caused substantial damage to airport infrastructure.
Sections of the terminal's glass façade were reportedly shattered, with debris falling into the passenger waiting area. Videos from inside the building showed people moving away from the windows as the glass structure gave way under the force of the wind.
Outside the terminal, several metal structures were reportedly torn apart or severely deformed.
Hangar facilities also sustained damage, with roofing materials and structural components displaced by the powerful gusts.
The damage raised immediate concerns about the safety of airport buildings, surrounding facilities and operational areas.
Following the storm, Voe Xap, the concessionaire responsible for managing Chapecó Airport, announced the suspension of aircraft arrivals and departures.
Technical teams were deployed to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the airport infrastructure and identify the necessary repairs.
Passengers were advised not to travel to the airport until further notice and to contact their respective airlines directly for information about flight cancellations, rescheduling and alternative arrangements.
At the time of the initial reports, no confirmed reopening schedule had been announced.
The suspension was intended to allow authorities to assess structural damage and ensure that airport facilities could safely support aircraft and passenger operations before services resumed.
Chapecó was not the only municipality affected by the storm system.
According to Santa Catarina Civil Defence reports, at least 18 municipalities had reported weather-related damage by Wednesday morning.
The destruction included damaged residential buildings, fallen structures, disrupted electricity supplies and transportation difficulties.
The National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) had issued a red-level severe weather warning covering parts of southern Brazil, including Santa Catarina, with forecasts of intense rainfall, hail and wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h.
The warning highlighted the potential for damage to buildings, power infrastructure and transportation networks.
The Chapecó incident demonstrates how extreme weather can rapidly disrupt airport operations, even when aircraft themselves are not directly involved in an accident.
Airports must maintain the structural integrity of terminals, hangars, airfield lighting, navigation infrastructure and other operational facilities to ensure safe operations during and after severe weather events.
Following a tornado or destructive wind event, airport authorities must inspect:
Terminal buildings, glass façades and structural roofing.
Aircraft hangars and maintenance facilities.
Runways, taxiways and apron surfaces for debris and foreign object damage.
Airfield lighting, signs and electrical installations.
Navigation and communication equipment.
Airport access roads, perimeter fencing and emergency facilities.
Any debris remaining on movement areas could present a foreign object damage (FOD) hazard to aircraft engines, tyres and other critical components.
The airport must therefore complete the necessary inspections and obtain operational clearance before flight services can safely resume.
The tornado that struck Chapecó on November 4 has caused significant damage to Serafim Enoss Bertaso Airport, forcing the suspension of flight operations and triggering an extensive infrastructure inspection.
With terminal facilities, hangars and surrounding structures affected, the immediate priority is to assess the damage, secure the airport environment and complete the necessary repairs.
The incident also highlights the vulnerability of regional aviation infrastructure to increasingly disruptive severe-weather events.
For Chapecó Airport, the return to normal operations will depend on the completion of structural inspections and confirmation that all affected airport facilities are safe for passengers, employees and aircraft.
