Flight TO-7646 | Registration: F-HTVP
Date: 10 April 2025 | Location: Enroute over Northern Portugal
Flight Details
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-800 (737-8K2) Engines: 2 × CFM56-7B26 Operator: Transavia France Registration: F-HTVP Flight Number: TO-7646 Callsign: TVF7646 Route: Paris Orly Airport (LFPO), France to Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LPPT), Portugal Date of Incident: 10 April 2025 Total Occupants: Approximately 180 (passengers and crew) Weather Conditions: Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) reported on approach
Introduction
On 10 April 2025, Transavia France flight TO-7646, operating from Paris Orly to Lisbon, declared a Mayday and diverted to Porto after an unidentified electronic device—an iPad—was found on board. The object, which could not be attributed to any passenger or crew member, was initially treated as a potential security threat. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 registered F-HTVP, was cruising at FL370, approximately 100 nautical miles east-northeast of Porto, when the crew took precautionary action and requested diversion.
Following a safe landing on Porto’s runway 35, the aircraft was examined on the ground for approximately 90 minutes before being cleared to continue to Lisbon. The flight arrived at its destination with a delay of about two hours.
Sequence of Events
While enroute over northern Portugal at FL370, the Transavia France cabin crew discovered an unattended iPad in the cabin. Initial efforts to identify its owner were unsuccessful. As no passenger or crew member could claim the device, and with aviation security protocols requiring caution regarding any unaccompanied electronic items, the flight crew assessed the object as potentially suspicious.
Upon advising ATC of the situation, the crew decided to divert to Porto (LPPR) and subsequently declared a Mayday as a precaution, citing an unidentified object on board.
The aircraft began a controlled descent and approach into Porto and landed safely around 25 minutes after the initial discovery.
Ground authorities and airport security personnel met the aircraft upon arrival. A controlled inspection of the cabin and the suspicious item was carried out. The object was determined to be a standard personal iPad, and no threat was identified. Once cleared, the aircraft was refuelled, the crew resumed duties, and the flight continued to Lisbon without further complications.
Crew & Communication
The flight crew acted in accordance with standard security protocols under EASA regulations for unidentified objects. Upon discovering a potentially unclaimed electronic device, they:
Consulted the airline’s Operations and Security Manuals Communicated the finding to ATC and requested immediate coordination for diversion Declared Mayday to ensure priority handling and clear airspace Ensured the item was isolated and secured during the approach
Communication between the cabin and cockpit was maintained throughout. Flight attendants conducted a full cabin scan and passenger questioning but were unable to confirm the ownership of the device.
The decision to escalate to Mayday was made in alignment with industry-wide heightened threat sensitivity regarding personal electronic devices (PEDs), especially those potentially modified or intentionally abandoned.
Aircraft Systems & Technical Analysis
The incident did not involve any aircraft system malfunctions. The diversion was executed solely due to the unidentified object protocol, and no impact to navigational, electrical, or propulsion systems occurred.
Post-landing checks by maintenance teams and airport security found no anomalies, and no mechanical or avionics issues were recorded on the aircraft’s fault monitoring system. The aircraft was cleared for departure approximately 90 minutes after arrival at Porto.
Passenger Experience & Cabin Conditions
Passengers were informed mid-flight of the precautionary return. While there were no visible signs of distress in the cabin, the sight of airport police and the declaration of Mayday may have raised anxiety among some passengers. The diversion and inspection were conducted without evacuation, and passengers remained on board until authorities had cleared the aircraft.
Transavia provided refreshments and support during the wait, and the flight eventually arrived in Lisbon without further disruption.
Emergency Response & Aftermath
Porto airport emergency services were pre-alerted and positioned on standby for the aircraft’s arrival. Police and security forces boarded the aircraft post-landing to identify and secure the object. A thorough inspection confirmed that the device posed no threat.
Once cleared, the aircraft departed Porto for Lisbon and landed without further incident. Passengers were disembarked normally and reconnected with their luggage.
Investigation Status
Although no formal security breach occurred, the Portuguese aviation and airport security authorities logged the event as a precautionary security occurrence. A basic incident report was filed, and both French and Portuguese aviation security departments were informed, as per international protocol for suspicious items aboard aircraft.
The iPad was retained by authorities for further examination. The event has been categorised as a precautionary diversion with no subsequent enforcement action required.
Root Cause & Contributing Factors
Probable Cause:
Presence of an unattended, unclaimed electronic device (iPad) in the cabin that could not be attributed to any passenger or crew, triggering security procedures and diversion.
Contributing Factors:
Potential passenger forgetfulness or mistaken device placement Inability to verify ownership mid-flight Strict regulatory environment surrounding unclaimed electronic items onboard commercial aircraft Precautionary interpretation of the situation in line with EASA safety and threat response protocols
Safety Recommendations & Industry Impact
This incident reinforces the need for:
Stricter boarding and baggage checks to account for all personal electronic devices Clear communication to passengers regarding reporting misplaced or unclaimed devices Enhanced cabin crew training for dealing with suspicious items Consideration of pre-emptive scanning technologies or automated PED tracking in future cabin layouts
The event also highlights the operational sensitivity around PEDs in the post-security era and the balance between caution and practicality in airline safety operations.
Conclusion
Though ultimately harmless, the discovery of an unclaimed iPad aboard Transavia France flight TO-7646 was treated with due caution by the crew, in line with modern aviation security procedures. The prompt diversion, Mayday declaration, and inspection ensured all risks were mitigated, even if the object proved benign. This incident underscores the ever-present challenges of in-flight security management and the importance of decisive crew action when uncertainty arises.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information and reports at the time of writing. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we cannot guarantee the completeness of the information provided.
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