Portimão aircraft accident investigation finds non-compliant towing equipment

Preliminary findings from the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (GPIAAF) indicate that equipment used to tow an advertising banner during a fatal aircraft accident in Portimão did not meet manufacturer specifications.

The accident occurred on August 8, 2026, involving a Cessna 150F operated by Aeroplano – Planeamento, Exploração e Manutenção de Aeronaves, Lda. During the flight, which was intended for advertising banner towing along the Algarve coast, the aircraft successfully engaged the banner but subsequently experienced a rapid loss of altitude following a series of wing drops and a nose-down attitude.

The pilot, 28-year-old João Martinho, was fully certified and authorized for the flight. Evidence suggests he managed to release the banner before the aircraft struck the ground. While investigators have identified the non-compliant towing materials as a point of interest, they noted that a direct causal link to the crash has not yet been confirmed.