A TAP Air Portugal flight, TP1329, faced a mid-air emergency shortly after departing from London Gatwick Airport. The Airbus A320, which was en route to Porto, requested an immediate return after transmitting a Squawk 7700 code, indicating a general emergency while climbing at 4,300 feet. The crew reported a fire in the galley, prompting a swift response as the aircraft performed a tight loop south of the airport before safely landing back at Gatwick around 9:41 am.

Upon landing, the plane was parked on a remote stand for a thorough technical assessment. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among passengers or crew members, which underscores the effectiveness of the emergency procedures in place. After a delay, the flight was able to resume its journey, departing Gatwick again at 12:20 pm and eventually arriving in Porto at 2:22 pm GMT, albeit hours later than its original schedule.

This incident is the second emergency declaration involving flights in the UK within a week, following a Jet2 flight that had to make an emergency landing due to a pilot becoming incapacitated. Such occurrences raise questions about flight safety protocols and the importance of immediate responses to in-flight emergencies, crucial for ensuring passenger safety.