NANTES, France — A TAP Air Portugal flight bound for Stockholm declared an inflight emergency on Tuesday morning while cruising over the Bay of Biscay and diverted to Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) in western France.
Flight TP780, operated by an Airbus A320neo registered as CS-TVO, departed Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in Lisbon at 8:25 a.m. local time heading for Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN).
Approximately one hour into the flight, as the twinjet was crossing the Bay of Biscay off the northwestern coast of France, the flight crew transmitted squawk code 7700, the international transponder code indicating an emergency situation.
Air traffic controllers immediately coordinated a descent and directed the aircraft toward Nantes Atlantique Airport, the closest suitable airfield along the flight path. Emergency services on the ground at Nantes were alerted and positioned in accordance with standard precautionary protocols.
Neither TAP Air Portugal nor aviation authorities have officially confirmed the precise nature of the emergency triggering the diversion.
