TAP Prague Incident Under Investigation: Portugal's Aviation Regulator Monitors Safety Review

Portugal's aviation regulator is actively monitoring the January near-collision involving a TAP Air Portugal passenger jet near Prague, while declining to draw premature conclusions as Czech authorities lead the primary investigation.

The incident—in which an Airbus A320neo descended below prescribed safety minimums during final approach to Prague's Václav Havel Airport—has triggered coordinated reviews between Portuguese and Czech aviation authorities. Adverse weather conditions complicated the landing sequence, prompting the flight crew to execute an emergency climb-out maneuver, an aborted landing that prevented what Czech officials characterized as one of the most serious incidents in the airport's recent history.

No passengers or crew sustained injuries, and the aircraft suffered no structural damage. TAP Air Portugal immediately launched an internal review, standard protocol for incidents classified as "serious" under European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations.

Regulator Takes Measured Stance on Prague Incident

Ana Vieira da Mata, president of ANAC (Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil), addressed the aviation incident during a parliamentary hearing originally focused on the Iberian electricity blackout. Speaking to reporters afterward, she emphasized that while Czech aviation authorities hold primary jurisdiction over the January 17 incident, Portugal's civil aviation watchdog remains fully engaged in collaborative reviews.

"The matter is being handled by entities in the Czech Republic, which does not mean the National Civil Aviation Authority is not conducting its due diligence and collaborating with these entities," Vieira da Mata stated. She declined to offer specifics about the incident itself, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Reports from European aviation sources, including pt.euronews.com, suggest the aircraft came within approximately 30 seconds of ground impact, though this assessment awaits confirmation through official Czech investigation findings.

What This Means for TAP Passengers

For Portuguese residents who regularly fly TAP to Central European destinations, understanding the regulatory response matters. Vieira da Mata sought to reassure the flying public that existing safety systems functioned as designed: "What I can guarantee is that the civil aviation system is safe and that the various redundancies in the system functioned. That does not mean there are no lessons to be learned. But at this stage, we want to wait for what our colleagues in the Czech Republic will say."

The reference to "redundancies" reflects layered safety protocols in modern aviation—ground-proximity warning systems, minimum safe altitude warnings, and crew training drills all contributed to the successful recovery. The incident underscores both the risks inherent in winter flying and the effectiveness of contemporary safety technology.

Passengers should expect no immediate operational changes. ANAC will not issue further public statements until Czech investigators complete their technical analysis, a process that typically takes several months. The regulator's cautious approach aligns with international aviation norms, where the state in which an incident occurs holds investigative authority.

Storm Aftermath: Regional Airfields Face Extended Recovery

Beyond the Prague incident, aviation infrastructure across Portugal faced significant challenges this winter. While Portugal's major commercial airports—Lisbon, Porto, and Faro—experienced minimal disruption, smaller municipal airfields sustained serious damage.

ANAC president Vieira da Mata singled out facilities in Coimbra, Leiria, and Castelo Branco as facing "dramatic" conditions. Flooding, infrastructure damage, and extended closures have particularly impacted flight training operations, creating a backlog for student pilots working toward certification.

In response, ANAC issued an emergency Circular de Informação Aeronáutica (aeronautical information circular) granting automatic extensions for practical exam deadlines and temporarily relaxing certain regulatory timelines. "We are not going to cling to formalism regarding dates when the context of the airfields in Coimbra, Leiria, or Castelo Branco is so dramatic," Vieira da Mata said. The regulator also contributed material donations to storm-relief efforts in affected regions.

Legal Development: CEO Lawsuit Proceeds to Civil Court

In a parallel development affecting TAP Air Portugal, the Lisbon Court of Appeal ruled that a high-stakes wrongful termination lawsuit filed by the airline's former chief executive will proceed in civil court.

Christine Ourmières-Widener, who led TAP from June 2021 until her dismissal in March 2023, is seeking €5.9M in compensation, arguing her removal was politically motivated. The government of then-Prime Minister António Costa terminated her contract in the aftermath of public outrage over executive severance payments.

The 6th Civil Section of the Lisbon Court of Appeal issued its ruling on February 13, determining that the legal relationship constituted a "true mandate contract" governed by civil law, not public administrative statutes. The decision clears the path for a full trial, though no hearing date has been scheduled. TAP's legal team contests both the compensation amount and the underlying claim.

In media interviews, Ourmières-Widener has maintained the termination had "nothing to do with performance," pointing to TAP's return to profitability in 2022—the first positive annual result in five years—and ahead-of-schedule progress on restructuring targets mandated by the European Commission as conditions for state aid.

Both sides have indicated willingness to negotiate, though the substantial gap between their positions remains significant. Legal observers predict no resolution before late 2026 at the earliest.