TAP A343 enroute on Sep 22nd 2014, engine problem

A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A340-300, registration CS-TOB performing flight TP-289 from Lisbon (Portugal) to Luanda (Angola) with 260 people on board, was enroute about 3.5 hours into the flight when the crew decided to descend the aircraft to FL300 and return to Lisbon due to an engine (CFM56) problem. The aircraft landed safely in Lisbon about 7.5 hours after departure.

A replacement Airbus A340-300 registration CS-TOC departed Lisbon about 6.5 hours after landing and is currently estimated to reach Luanda with a delay of 13 hours.

The airline reported the problem related to the bearings of one of the engine. The decision to return to Lisbon was taken in consultation between crew and maintenance at the "point of return", the flight could have continued to Luanda, but the repair would be quicker in Lisbon than in Luanda.