The owner and CEO of Spanish airline Plus Ultra were arrested Thursday as part of a money laundering inquiry, marking a renewed focus on the carrier’s financial practices. Julio Martínez and Roberto roselli were detained following a raid at the company’s Madrid headquarters, according to authorities. The arrests follow a previously investigated €53 million government bailout the airline received in 2021, raising further questions about oversight of public funds within Spain’s aviation sector.
Plus Ultra has stated its full cooperation, offering to provide all requested documentation.
Courtesy | Julio Martínez, owner of Plus Ultra, and CEO Roberto Roselli are under investigation
The owner and CEO of Spanish airline Plus Ultra have been arrested as part of a money laundering investigation, authorities announced Thursday, November 30th. Julio Martínez, the airline’s owner, and Roberto Roselli, its CEO, were taken into custody following a raid on the company’s headquarters in Madrid.
Sources close to the investigation confirmed the arrests to EFE, adding that the case is being led by Investigating Court No. 15 in Madrid and is currently under seal.
The arrests come after Plus Ultra received a €53 million (approximately $57.5 million USD) government bailout in 2021. That rescue operation was previously investigated by the same court, but the case was ultimately dismissed with the support of the Madrid Provincial Court.
The investigating magistrate determined at the time that no criminal offense had been properly substantiated and that the emergency decree designed to support the economy and employment had been correctly applied.
Plus Ultra released a statement Thursday saying it would fully cooperate with investigators, “facilitating all the documentation” required. The company clarified that the investigation is focused on its financial and economic operations, but declined to comment on the arrests of its leadership.
The investigation into Plus Ultra and its executives comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of financial dealings within the Spanish airline industry. The outcome of the case could have broader implications for future government support of private companies.
