TAP TP1240: Near-CFIT Incident in Prague on January 17th

Summary

On January 17, 2026, TAP Air Portugal flight TP1240, an Airbus A320neo, descended well below the Minimum Safe Altitude during its ILS approach to Prague’s Runway 06, reaching only about 2,600 ft MSL—roughly 1,000 ft above ground—before ATC intervened and the crew recovered to a safe landing. The incident occurred in low‑visibility mist and fog, with the crew using the correct 1023 hPa altimeter setting, yet a rapid 3,000‑ft‑per‑minute descent and high ground speed led to the altitude breach. Czech authorities have classified the event as a serious incident and opened an investigation, analyzing both the aircraft’s black‑box data and ATC radar recordings. The episode highlights the critical role of precise altitude management, ATC monitoring, and swift crew response in preventing a near‑CFIT scenario.