TAP Air Portugal Flight 1492

TAP Air Portugal Flight 1492 (IATA flight number: TP1492, ICAO: TAP1492, callsign: AIR PORTUGAL 1492) is a scheduled intercontinental flight of TAP from Lisbon to Conakry. On 2 September 2022 it was operated with an Airbus A320-251 (CS-TVI). During landing the aircraft collided with a motorcycle on the runway. The two people on the motorcycle were killed in the accident.

Accident sequence

During the final approach to Conakry Airport, when the aircraft was already aligned for landing with runway 24, the runway being approached, both pilots noticed a motionless, faint light located on or next to the runway. While continuing the approach, the pilots discussed what the light might be and assumed it was the lighting of a runway side exit. When the Airbus touched down on the runway at 23:40 local time, the pilots could see in the glare of the landing lights a motorcycle travelling from the centre of the runway towards the runway edge, moving at an angle of about 45 degrees to the runway. The first officer still tried to avert the impending collision by means of rudder inputs, but the aircraft struck the motorcycle with its right engine. The two people on the motorcycle were killed and the engine nacelle of the Airbus was badly damaged. There were no injuries among the occupants of the Airbus.

Accident investigation

The accident investigation found that the rider of the motorcycle had been an employee of a security service whose task was to monitor the airport grounds.

After the accident

Because of the severe damage, the aircraft's return flight TP1493 to Lisbon had to be cancelled. The aircraft remained at Conakry Airport for repair work from 2 September to 5 December 2022. On 15 September 2022 it was returned to service.