Ryanair flight returns to Porto following security incident

A Ryanair Boeing 737-8 MAX, operating flight 7073 from Porto to Dublin, was forced to return to its departure airport on September 24, 2026, following a security concern involving a 48-year-old Brazilian passenger. Shortly after takeoff, the woman provided flight attendants with notes claiming that she was being followed by three individuals on the aircraft, requesting that the information be delivered to the pilot.

In response to the report, the pilot initiated emergency protocol by entering the transponder code 7500, which signifies illegal interference or a potential hijacking attempt. The aircraft landed safely back in Porto, where the passenger was identified by local police authorities. While some reports suggested the woman was removed from the flight, the Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã noted that she eventually returned to the aircraft after officials were unable to confirm her claims. The flight subsequently departed again, arriving in Dublin approximately two and a half hours behind schedule at 3:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday.