Published on
December 16, 2025
From early 2022 through November 2025, commercial aviation in Portugal has confronted several emergency landings. These incidents span medical emergencies, mechanical issues, turbulence and disruptive passengers. Because emergency procedures involve many actors, including airlines, airports, and government agencies, this article focuses on events that were publicly confirmed by the airlines or by Portuguese emergency services. The chronological narrative below reviews each verified incident and explains how authorities managed them.
April 10 2022 – EasyJet captain incapacitation at Faro
An easyJet Airbus A320neo operating flight EZY2213 from London‑Luton to Agadir diverted to Faro when the captain suffered a medical issue. According to an easyJet representative, the airline confirmed that the unscheduled landing occurred because the captain needed medical attention and that the first officer landed the aircraft safely[1]. The crew declared a medical emergency and requested priority landing; paramedics met the aircraft at Faro and took the captain to a Portuguese hospital[1]. Passengers were accommodated in hotels because a replacement crew could not be arranged immediately. Though the incident caused inconvenience, easyJet emphasised that safety procedures worked as intended.
June 18 2022 – World2Fly landing‑gear problem at Lisbon
World2Fly Portugal, a leisure carrier, experienced an issue with its Airbus A330‑300 during flight 3P‑1155 from Lisbon to Varadero, Cuba. Shortly after take‑off the crew could not fully retract the landing gear and, as a precaution, circled to burn off fuel before returning to Lisbon. Local emergency services activated an orange alert and deployed firefighters, medical teams and police around the runway[2]. The chief executive of World2Fly later explained that there was no damage and that the emergency measures were precautionary[3]. After safety checks, the aircraft departed again the same evening, illustrating how coordinated procedures ensured passenger safety without serious disruption.
July 26 2022 – Suspected engine fire on easyJet flight from Faro
A few weeks later, another easyJet aircraft faced an emergency shortly after departing Faro for Glasgow. The flight crew reported a possible fire in one of the engines, shut the engine down and declared an emergency. According to the District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) of Faro, the airport’s emergency plan was activated at red‑alert level; 34 vehicles and 80 personnel were dispatched to prepare for a potential rescue[4]. The Airbus A320 circled the Algarve region to dump fuel and landed safely at around 22:00. Firefighters inspected the aircraft and found no signs of fire[5]. Approximately 190 passengers were unharmed, and the aircraft returned to the hangar for maintenance. This incident demonstrated the rapid mobilisation capability of Portuguese emergency services.
March 23 2023 – TAAG Angola turbulence incident near Lisbon
TAAG Angola Airlines (operating under Hi‑Fly) encountered severe turbulence on flight DT652 from Luanda to Lisbon. The Airbus A330, still over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, suddenly dropped, injuring ten passengers. In a subsequent statement, TAAG explained that the turbulence was due to adverse weather conditions and emphasised that the aircraft was never at risk[6]. Lisbon airport prepared an emergency response: ambulances, medical teams and firefighters awaited the aircraft on arrival[6]. Injured passengers received treatment at the airport, and the airline reiterated its commitment to safety.
April 19 2023 – Jet2 diversion to Faro because of disruptive passenger
A Jet2 Boeing 737 operating from Glasgow to Tenerife diverted to Faro after a drunk passenger behaved aggressively and urinated in the cabin. Jet2 confirmed that the captain decided to divert due to the passenger’s behaviour. A spokesperson said that all passengers were disembarked, the aircraft was deep‑cleaned and the disruptive passenger was banned for life with the airline seeking compensation[7]. Jet2 emphasised its “zero‑tolerance” policy towards disruptive behaviour. The situation delayed travellers but avoided further risks.
June 2023 – Minor events without official confirmation
Several other emergency landings at Portuguese airports in 2023 were reported in the media (such as a Thomson charter diverting to Faro and other Ryanair incidents). However, official statements from airlines or Portuguese authorities were not publicly available for these events; consequently they are omitted from this verified list.
December 20 2023 – Ryanair technical diversion to Faro
Just before Christmas, Ryanair flight FR1080 from London Stansted to Lisbon landed at Faro due to a minor technical issue. The Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command confirmed that the airport’s emergency plan was activated as a precaution, but no intervention was required and passengers disembarked normally[8]. A Ryanair spokesperson said the aircraft landed routinely, passengers were re‑accommodated on transport to Lisbon and the airline apologised for the delay[8]. The incident underscored how low‑level technical issues still trigger robust responses.
July 27 2024 – EasyJet co‑pilot illness on flight to Lisbon
During summer 2024, an easyJet flight EZY2459 from London‑Luton to Lisbon faced another crew‑related emergency. Mid‑flight, the co‑pilot felt unwell, prompting the captain to take control and request priority landing. According to an easyJet spokesperson, paramedics met the aircraft on arrival, the unwell crew member was treated, and the landing proceeded normally; the airline stressed that safety was never compromised[9]. Passengers praised the crew for professionalism, and the incident highlighted the importance of medical readiness on flights.
December 10 2024 – Disruptive passenger forces diversion to Faro
Later in 2024, a flight from Agadir, Morocco, to Glasgow operated by easyJet was diverted to Faro because of a disruptive passenger. The flight crew decided to land after the passenger caused safety concerns. Portuguese police boarded the aircraft, removed and detained the individual, and the aircraft later continued to Glasgow. An easyJet spokesperson said that cabin crew are trained to act quickly and appropriately; they reiterated that such incidents are rare, are taken seriously and that disruptive behaviour is not tolerated[10]. The airline reaffirmed that the safety and well‑being of passengers and crew remains its top priority[11].
August 10 2025 – Ryanair pilot faints on approach to Porto
One of the most serious emergencies in recent years occurred in August 2025 when a Ryanair Boeing 737 operating flight FR4587 from Barcelona to Porto reported that the captain had lost consciousness during descent. The first officer assumed command, declared a medical emergency and landed safely at Porto. Portugal’s National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) confirmed that the pilot experienced a “rapidly recovering syncope”[12] and was treated by emergency crews on the runway. Aviation direct later reported that INEM required the pilot to undergo a medical examination before returning to duty[13]. Ryanair praised the professionalism of its crew and emphasised that its protocols ensure redundancy and passenger safety. There were no injuries among the 178 passengers.
Across the period 2022–2025, verified emergencies at Portuguese airports were triggered by medical issues (crew incapacitation), mechanical problems (landing‑gear malfunction, suspected engine fire, minor technical defects), severe turbulence and disruptive passengers. Medical events occurred both in the cockpit and cabin, highlighting the need for immediate access to medical care at airports. Mechanical problems generally involved precautionary landings rather than actual failures; the World2Fly and easyJet engine‑fire incidents illustrate how airports deploy large emergency resources even when the risk is low[14][15]. Severe turbulence, as in TAAG’s case, can cause injuries despite modern aircraft design[6]. Disruptive passengers, though rare, led to diversions in 2023 and 2024, prompting airlines to emphasise zero‑tolerance policies[7][11].
Role of emergency services and airlines
Portuguese authorities displayed high readiness during emergencies. The CDOS and regional civil‑protection commands activated established plans, mobilising dozens of vehicles and personnel on short notice[4]. INEM’s rapid response to the 2025 pilot medical incident illustrates cooperation between medical services and airports[12]. Airlines also communicated openly about incidents; statements from easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TAAG stressed that safety procedures worked and that passenger well‑being was the priority[1][8][7][6]. In many cases airlines arranged onward travel or accommodations for passengers affected by diversions.
While the number of emergency landings reported between 2022 and November 2025 may appear notable, none resulted in fatalities or serious injuries. The incidents demonstrate that Portugal’s aviation infrastructure can handle medical emergencies, technical faults and unexpected turbulence efficiently. Coordination between aircrews, air‑traffic control, emergency services and airline operations prevented potential crises. As air traffic continues to grow, maintaining robust training and emergency response capabilities will remain essential.
- Aviation.Direct article about the easyJet captain incapacitation in April 2022[1].
- Portugal.com report quoting the World2Fly chief executive and describing emergency measures during the June 2022 landing‑gear incident[2][3].
- The Portugal News article citing the District Relief Operations Command of Faro regarding the suspected engine fire on July 26 2022[15].
- Aviation24 report on TAAG Angola Airlines’ statement about turbulence and the emergency response on March 23 2023[6].
- Aviation24 article quoting Jet2’s spokesperson about the disruptive passenger diversion on April 19 2023[7].
- The Portugal News and Ryanair statements concerning the technical diversion of flight FR1080 on December 20 2023[8].
- Business Insider article reporting easyJet’s statement following the co‑pilot’s illness on July 27 2024[9].
- The Portugal News article quoting easyJet and Portuguese police regarding the disruptive passenger diversion on December 10 2024[10].
- Aviation24 and Aviation.Direct reports referencing INEM’s statement about the pilot fainting on August 10 2025[12][13].
