On Feb 8th 2026, a TAP Air Portugal Airbus A320-200, registration CS-TNJ, operating flight TP-1329 from London Gatwick Airport to Porto, was forced to return shortly after departure following a fire in the cabin.
The aircraft had departed runway 26L and was climbing out when the crew levelled off at 4,000 feet after receiving reports of a fire in a galley area. The pilots immediately initiated a return to Gatwick, landing safely back on runway 26L about 13 minutes after takeoff. The aircraft vacated the runway and stopped on a parallel taxiway, where emergency services conducted an external inspection before the jet proceeded back to the apron.
Details later released by GPIAA in their April bulletin shed light on the cause of the incident. During the climb, before reaching 10,000 feet, cabin crew detected a strong burning odor. The purser moved to investigate while instructing another crew member to notify the cockpit.
Upon reaching the affected area, the purser found that several passengers had already stood up, partially blocking the aisle. Cabin crew quickly identified smoke coming from an overhead locker and used a fire extinguisher to tackle the source. Inside the luggage compartment, a piece of hand baggage was found to be on fire.
The fire was rapidly extinguished, and the smoke began to dissipate, but the decision had already been made to return as a precaution. Firefighters boarded the aircraft after landing and removed the smoldering bag.
Investigators later confirmed that the source of the fire was an e-cigarette stored inside the passenger’s hand luggage, highlighting the well-known risks associated with lithium battery-powered devices.
After approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes on the ground, the aircraft was cleared to depart again and continued to Porto, arriving with a delay of about the same duration.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential hazards posed by improperly handled electronic devices in the cabin, and the critical role of alert cabin crew in preventing a potentially far more serious outcome.
