The transatlantic flight from Newark to Lisbon experienced multiple system failures but touched down without injuries to passengers or crew.
A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A330 landed safely in Lisbon last week after suffering an engine shutdown and hydraulic failure during a transatlantic flight from Newark Liberty International Airport.
Flight TP204, operating with an Airbus A330-200 registered as CS-TOO, declared a “PAN PAN” emergency situation while approaching the Portuguese capital on May 23. The crew successfully managed the multiple system failures, touching down with no injuries reported among passengers or crew aboard the overnight service.
The aircraft experienced its first malfunction at 41,000 feet while flying approximately 370 nautical miles from Lisbon. According to aviation industry publication The Aviation Herald, the engine shutdown was caused by a clogged oil filter, forcing the wide-body jet to continue its approach on a single engine.
As the flight descended through 20,000 feet on approach to Humberto Delgado Airport, additional problems emerged. The crew reported low pressure indicators from the fuel pumps on the right wing, alongside failures in the aircraft’s blue hydraulic system and one of the slat systems.
The Portuguese flag carrier’s flight had already faced delays earlier in the day. The A330-200 arrived at Newark 97 minutes behind schedule due to earlier delays on a round-trip service between Lisbon and Funchal. The return transatlantic flight departed at 12:27 a.m. local time, nearly two hours late.
Despite the challenging conditions, the flight crew managed a successful landing on runway 02 at Lisbon Airport. However, the aircraft’s compromised systems were evident during the landing rollout, with only the outboard ground spoilers and the right-hand engine’s thrust reverser deploying normally.
The twin-aisle aircraft has remained grounded at Lisbon since the incident occurred three days ago, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24. CS-TOO is a 17-year-old aircraft and one of only three Airbus A330-200s in TAP Air Portugal’s fleet.
Flight TP204 operates as a daily scheduled service between Newark and Lisbon, serving as an important link between TAP’s hub in the Portuguese capital and the New York metropolitan area. The route typically uses either modern A321LR narrow-body aircraft or A330-900 wide-body jets from Airbus’s newer generation families.
TAP Air Portugal, a Star Alliance member, has not responded to requests for comment regarding the aircraft’s current maintenance status or when it might return to service.
A “PAN PAN” declaration indicates a situation requiring possible assistance but not posing an immediate threat to the aircraft or its occupants, distinguishing it from the more urgent “Mayday” emergency call.
Key Takeaways
- TAP Air Portugal flight TP204 safely landed in Lisbon after experiencing engine and hydraulic failures during transatlantic service from Newark.
- The crew declared “PAN PAN” emergency status but successfully managed multiple system malfunctions without passenger or crew injuries.
- The 17-year-old Airbus A330-200 has been grounded for three days following the incident pending maintenance evaluation.
- Engine shutdown was attributed to a clogged oil filter, with additional hydraulic and fuel system issues occurring during approach.
