TAP Air Portugal Joins EasyJet, TAAG Angola Airlines, and Azores Airlines Battle Amidst Unthinkable Emergency Landings Across Portugal as Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon Reveal: What You Need to Know

Published on December 26, 2025

Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport serves as a vital European hub. Between January 2022 and December 2025 it handled millions of travellers and thousands of flights. Despite this busy environment, only a handful of flights experienced situations serious enough to trigger an emergency landing or diversion. Each of these events was handled under established protocols, and airlines or state agencies issued official statements on what happened and how it was resolved. The following narrative summarises every government‑verified or airline‑confirmed emergency landing at Lisbon during this four‑year period, offering insight into operational resilience and crisis management.

June 19 2022 – landing‑gear problem on a World2Fly A330

World2Fly Portugal operates leisure flights from Lisbon to long‑haul holiday destinations. On the afternoon of 19 June 2022 its Airbus A330‑300 (flight 3P‑1155) departed Lisbon at 16:36 for Varadero, Cuba. Shortly after take‑off the crew discovered that the landing gear was not retracting fully. As a precaution the captain decided to return to Lisbon. The aircraft circled over Sintra for more than two hours to burn fuel, an essential procedure before a heavy aircraft can land safely[1]. At 16:52 the airport declared an orange alert, suspending traffic briefly while firefighters, medical teams from the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) and police deployed around the runway[2]. The A330 touched down safely at 19:09, and all 330 passengers remained calm throughout. Afterwards the chief executive of World2Fly explained that the event “was not an emergency”; rather, the airline and airport activated precautionary measures to ensure a safe landing[3]. With the aircraft found undamaged, it departed again at 21:00[4]. The incident demonstrated that Lisbon’s emergency plan can be activated quickly and that clear communication between air traffic control and airline management reassures travellers while operations continue.

March 23 2023 – TAAG Angola flight DT652 hit by severe turbulence

On 23 March 2023 a TAAG Angola Airlines service from Luanda to Lisbon, operated by a wet‑leased Hi Fly A330‑300 (registration 9H‑HFA), encountered severe turbulence over the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ten people – eight passengers and two crew members – were injured when service trolleys and other objects were thrown about[5]. Despite the injuries, the aircraft maintained its route to Lisbon. TAAG issued a statement that evening attributing the incident to poor weather and stressing that the aircraft remained airworthy[6]. The airline said it had activated an emergency response, dispatching ambulances and a medical team to meet the flight in Lisbon[7]. When the aircraft arrived at 20:37, emergency teams were waiting in the parking area to assess passengers[8]. Most injuries were minor, and the airline’s swift acknowledgement underscored its commitment to transparency. The incident highlighted the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened during cruise and reminded operators that turbulence can lead to injuries even when the aircraft itself remains structurally sound.

July 7 2024 – TAP Air Portugal flight TP 752 loses cabin pressure

TAP Air Portugal’s flight TP 752 from Lisbon to Copenhagen on 7 July 2024 illustrates how quickly crews act when a technical fault occurs. The Airbus A320‑200neo (registration CS‑TVB) was cruising at 34 000 feet about 70 nautical miles west of Bilbao when sensors indicated a loss of cabin pressure. The crew donned oxygen masks and initiated an emergency descent at an average rate of nearly 4 800 feet per minute[9]. Oxygen masks automatically deployed in the cabin, and the aircraft levelled off at 10 000 feet before turning back toward Portugal. Roughly two hours after departure the aircraft landed safely at Lisbon[10]. In a brief official report the airline said the aircraft returned because of “technical issues”[11], and there were no injuries. The event underscored the redundancy built into modern aircraft: loss of pressurisation is serious, but standard procedures – emergency descent and return to base – protect passengers. TAP’s prompt disclosure of a technical cause also demonstrated transparency.

July 27 2024 – easyJet co‑pilot incapacitation on approach

Another July 2024 incident involved an easyJet flight from London Luton to Lisbon (flight EZY2459) operated by an Airbus A320‑200 (registration G‑EZOA). During the final approach to Lisbon, the first officer fainted. The captain took over and requested a priority landing. In a statement the airline confirmed that paramedics met the aircraft on arrival because a member of the flight crew had become unwell[12]. easyJet noted that the captain landed the flight routinely in line with standard procedures and that passengers disembarked normally; at no time was safety compromised[13]. The aircraft remained in Lisbon for several hours before returning to service. This event highlights why airlines employ two pilots: the remaining pilot can safely land the aircraft if the other is incapacitated. The airline’s communication emphasised that its highest priority is the safety and welfare of passengers and crew[13], reinforcing public confidence in low‑cost carriers’ professionalism.

July 26 2025 – bomb threat diverts Azores Airlines flight S4504 to Lisbon

The most serious emergency during this period occurred on 26 July 2025 when Azores Airlines flight S4504 (an Airbus A320neo) was en route from Ponta Delgada to Bilbao. Roughly two hours after departure a security alert was received, prompting the captain to activate safety protocols and divert to Lisbon. Emergency procedures were followed: the crew announced the diversion, and the aircraft landed safely at Humberto Delgado Airport at around 13:00[14]. After landing, the aircraft was directed to a secluded area for a thorough inspection while passengers remained on board[15]. Disembarkation began at 14:30 once authorities determined there was no immediate danger[16]. Azores Airlines later confirmed that the captain had executed the correct safety protocol and reassured the public that all necessary precautions were taken[17]. The airline noted that passengers were allowed to disembark calmly and without incident[18]. Authorities detained two passengers for questioning; investigators concluded the bomb threat was a false alarm[19]. In a separate summary of the event, the airline stated that regular operations remained unaffected except for the disrupted flight and that assistance was being provided to passengers while the investigation proceeded[20]. The rapid, coordinated response between flight crew, airport authorities and law enforcement showcased Lisbon’s ability to handle security threats while minimising disruption to other operations.

Patterns and insights

These officially verified events share several patterns. First, all emergencies were resolved without fatalities or serious injury. In the 2023 turbulence incident the airline’s quick medical response meant that even passengers with minor injuries were treated promptly[8]. The 2024 pressurisation and medical emergencies demonstrated that crews followed standard operating procedures: emergency descent, return to base or priority landing. Transparent communication from airlines – such as World2Fly’s reassurance that there was no damage[4], TAAG’s acknowledgement of weather‑related turbulence[6], TAP’s confirmation of technical issues[11], easyJet’s emphasis on routine procedures[13], and Azores Airlines’ clarification of safety protocols[17] – played a crucial role in maintaining public trust.

Second, Lisbon airport’s emergency preparedness proved robust. In every case, emergency services were mobilised quickly, whether for a suspected landing‑gear failure, injuries from turbulence or a bomb threat. Firefighters, medical teams and police stood by the runway when needed[2]. This readiness allowed normal operations to resume soon after each incident, as demonstrated when the World2Fly flight departed later the same evening[4] and when Azores Airlines reported that airport operations were largely unaffected by the bomb threat[20].

Third, the incidents highlight the diversity of emergencies airports must prepare for. Mechanical issues (landing‑gear malfunctions and pressurisation loss), severe turbulence, crew illness and security threats each demand specific procedures. The fact that all of these were handled effectively during a busy four‑year period speaks to the quality of training provided to flight crews and to the coordination between airlines, airport operators and emergency services.

Conclusion

Between January 2022 and December 2025 there were only five officially verified emergency landings or diversions at Lisbon Airport. Each incident was managed under established protocols, and official statements from airlines or authorities confirm that the measures taken were precautionary and effective. Passengers were kept safe, injuries were minimal and operations resumed quickly. Lisbon’s experience demonstrates the importance of preparedness, clear communication and cooperation in aviation safety. While emergency landings will always be newsworthy, the response to these events illustrates how robust procedures and trained professionals can turn potential crises into examples of effective crisis management.

Reference list

1. Portugal.com article on the World2Fly flight explaining the orange alert, deployment of firefighters, INEM and police, and the CEO’s comment that there was no damage and the aircraft departed again later that evening[21].
2. Aviation24 report on TAAG flight DT652, summarising the airline’s statement attributing injuries to poor weather conditions and describing the emergency response at Lisbon[22].
3. Simple Flying article on the TAAG turbulence incident noting that TAAG released a statement blaming adverse atmospheric conditions and that the airline requested medical teams to meet the flight[23].
4. AeroInside/AvHerald report on TAP Air Portugal flight TP 752 describing the loss of cabin pressure, emergency descent and safe return to Lisbon, with the airline reporting the return due to technical issues[11].
5. Simple Flying article on easyJet flight EZY2459 quoting the airline spokesperson who said paramedics met the flight, the captain landed routinely and safety was never compromised[24].
6. Travel And Tour World article on Azores Airlines flight S4504 detailing the diversion to Lisbon, isolation of the aircraft for inspection, the airline’s statement that safety protocols were followed and passengers disembarked calmly[25].
7. Aviation24 article on the same bomb‑threat incident noting that SATA stated that operations remained unaffected except for the disrupted flight and that the airline was assisting passengers[20].