TAP Air Portugal Faces Lawsuit After Assault Incident in Paris Orly

LISBON- A 30-year-old Brazilian-Italian woman files a lawsuit against TAP Air Portugal (TP) after an alleged sexual assault in a Paris hotel room she shared with strangers following a flight cancellation from Paris Orly (ORY) to Lisbon (LIS).

The airline refused single occupancy rooms due to shortages, forcing her to share with a man and a woman, which led to the nighttime attack and her demand for higher compensation.

Photo: By tjdarmstadt – IMG_7119.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61529658

TAP Air Portugal Faces Lawsuit

The woman boarded a TAP Air Portugal (TP) flight TP439 on May 31, 2025, but the crew announced a technical issue, canceling the departure. Passengers deplaned and sought hotel vouchers at the customer service desk under European air passenger rights.

The airline informed her that the limited rooms required sharing with two others, a German woman and a Brazilian man, or paying for her own accommodation.

Lacking funds for a costly Paris hotel, she accepted the shared room, which featured one double bed and a couch.

During the night, the German woman left due to sleeplessness. The victim awoke to the naked man on top of her, kissing her neck and attempting to rape her. She screamed, causing him to flee.

She reported the incident to the police in Brazil, sparking an official complaint to the airline. TAP Air Portugal offered 5,000 reais (US $920) in compensation without admitting fault or apologizing, which she rejected.

Now pursuing a lawsuit for 50,000 reais (US $9,100), she provided evidence like the hotel voucher listing all three names and a room photo.

The German roommate supports her, stating that the policy exposed women to vulnerability. According to PYOK, TAP Air Portugal has not commented on the matter despite requests.

Passengers faced the cancellation after boarding at Paris Orly (ORY), stranding them overnight. European rules mandate hotel stays for such delays, regardless of cause.

The airline booked shared rooms for solo travelers due to shortages, ignoring her demand for privacy. This decision prioritized cost over safety, leading to the assault.

Photo: By Javier Bravo Muñoz – Gallery page http://www.airliners.net/photo/TAP-Portugal/Airbus-A320-214/1574803/LPhoto http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/3/0/8/1574803.jpg, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27331469

Legal Action and Support

Upon returning home, the woman filed a police report and rejected the low settlement. She aims to hold the airline accountable for endangering passengers.

The Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) advised her post-incident, though airline support remained minimal.

Photo: Clément Alloing

European Air Passenger Rights

EC 261 law, effective since 2005, requires airlines to provide meals, transport, calls, and hotel stays for overnight delays. It applies universally, even for technical issues.

No rule specifies single rooms, allowing shared accommodations. Most airlines offer individual rooms, but shortages can force alternatives without legal mandates for privacy.

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