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R$ 64 million airplane purchased by Pernambuco to enhance aeromedical service had temporary removal of medical kit pointed out by report during official agendas of Governor Raquel Lyra. The government claims there was no harm to health and says it follows technical, legal, and operational criteria in the state fleet in 2026.
The R$ 64 million airplane purchased by the Government of Pernambuco to enhance aeromedical service came under scrutiny after a report pointed out the temporary removal of the aircraft’s medical kit for official trips of Governor Raquel Lyra.
The investigation was published on June 13, 2026, and involves a Beechcraft King Air 260, registered PS-GEP, acquired slightly used for R$ 64.3 million in July 2025. The state government claims the aircraft is part of a multi-mission fleet and denies any harm to health actions.
Aircraft was presented as aeromedical reinforcement
The airplane was purchased with funds from the Pernambuco Department of Social Defense. In the presentation of the equipment, the Air Tactical Group reported that the aircraft would expand the capacity for aeromedical service in the state.
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The proposed plan was to provide more agility and safety for missions involving patient transport, organs, and operations related to health and public safety. Therefore, the temporary removal of the medical kit raised questions about usage priority.
Bid specified a multi-mission aircraft
The documentation cited by the report specified a multi-mission aircraft. This means the airplane could serve different purposes, such as transporting authorities, security forces, organs, patients, and civil defense actions.
This point is important to avoid a partial reading of the case. Institutional use does not appear as something outside the intended purpose of the purchase, but the discussion arose because the aircraft had also been presented as reinforcement for aeromedical service.
Medical kit was reportedly temporarily removed
According to the report, the medical equipment was temporarily removed to allow the aircraft to be configured for transporting authorities. A dispatch from December 15, 2025, reportedly recorded the removal of the equipment and the preparation of the plane for VIP transport.
The term “VIP” also appears related to the purchase documentation, according to the investigation. The central question is not only whether the aircraft could transport authorities, but how the priority was defined between institutional use and aeromedical use.
Government claims there was no harm to health
Questioned about the case, the Government of Pernambuco informed that the planes in the state fleet are used only in institutional missions of public interest. The management stated that the uses follow technical, operational, and legal criteria.
The government also declared that there was no harm to health and safety actions. According to the state administration, other aircraft would remain available for aeromedical operations when necessary.
Air taxi was used in health operation
The report points out that, in one of the periods analyzed, the government resorted to the air taxi company Easy to carry out patient transport and organ collection for transplant. These operations reportedly totaled around R$ 100,000.
This data increased the case’s repercussion. The public questioning arose because the plane purchased to reinforce aeromedical service was reportedly adapted for institutional travel while a medical operation was carried out by a contracted company.
Aeromedical kit was valued at nearly R$ 400,000
The purchase reference term required the installation of an aeromedical kit for rescue and patient transport. According to data from the Transparency Portal cited by the report, the equipment was valued at nearly R$ 400,000.
This kit is what allows the aircraft to be transformed into a suitable structure for aerial medical service. When it is removed, even temporarily, the plane is no longer configured for this type of mission at that time.
King Air 260 can perform different functions
The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a turboprop used in different types of operation. In public fleets, aircraft of this size can be configured for institutional transport, security support, team displacement, and aeromedical service.
Therefore, the discussion involves less about the aircraft model and more about the management of its availability. The same aircraft can perform various functions, but it needs clear criteria to switch between them.
First uses occurred after delivery
The report points out that the first use of the aircraft by the governor occurred a few days after delivery. In December 2025, Raquel Lyra traveled to Brasília on an official agenda related to the recovery of the Recife Metro.
Days later, the governor also had trips related to commitments in São Paulo and Brasília. The investigation mentions a coincidence between flight records and official commitments, without stating that all trips have the same operational purpose.
May history also entered the investigation
In May 2026, the flight history was again associated with the governor’s official commitments. The report mentions trips to Brasília and also flights between Recife and airstrips in the interior of Pernambuco.
Between May 21 and 23, the aircraft was reportedly used for agendas in the state’s hinterland. The government maintains that these trips are part of institutional missions of public interest.
State cites savings with fleet use
In response, the state executive informed that since the beginning of the current administration, 158 air segments have been recorded, with estimated savings of R$ 880 thousand. The management also compared the current use of the fleet with previous air taxi contracts.
The government added that 45 segments were carried out in official aircraft for institutional agendas. The official defense is that the use of the fleet reduces costs and does not compromise health and security missions.
Debate requires objective priority criteria
The case of the R$ 64 million airplane raises an administrative question: how to define, with transparency, when a multi-mission aircraft should serve health, security, civil defense, or official trips.
This type of rule is important because the aircraft was publicized as an aeromedical reinforcement, but the bidding also provided for other uses. Clarity about mission priority helps reduce doubts when there are simultaneous demands.
Public communication became a sensitive point
In situations involving public resources, health, and the official fleet, government communication needs to be detailed. Simply stating that the aircraft is multi-mission may not be enough to explain why the medical kit was removed at certain times.
Ideally, in such cases, it should be clear when the plane is configured for an aeromedical mission, when it is adapted for institutional transport, and which aircraft are available for urgent care. This transparency helps the citizen understand the operational logic.
Questioning does not change multi-mission forecast of the purchase
The report does not eliminate the fact that the purchase involved multi-mission use. It also does not prove, by itself, that there was direct harm to patients, a point denied by the Government of Pernambuco.
At the same time, the records raise a legitimate discussion about priority and availability. When an aircraft is presented as a reinforcement for aeromedical service, any change in configuration tends to require a detailed public explanation.
Case still depends on documents and clarifications
The 64 million BRL airplane remains at the center of the debate because it involves high cost, public purpose, health service, and official travel. The final response on the case depends on the complete analysis of flight records, dispatches, aircraft configurations, and activation criteria.
For now, there are two main points: the report indicates a temporary removal of the medical kit for institutional use, and the government claims that the fleet was used legally, without prejudice to aeromedical service.
Do you think multi-mission aircraft purchased by the public authority should have clearer rules on when to serve health, security, and official travel? Leave your opinion in the comments.
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