# Plus Ultra airline operations and incidents

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/plus-ultra-airline-operations-and-incidents
> Updated: 2026-08-24T13:30:00.000Z. Sources: 25. Developments: 2.

Since beginning operations in May 2026, Plus Ultra has significantly influenced the air travel market between Madrid and Buenos Aires. The carrier reported high demand, with 35,000 tickets sold and an 83% occupancy rate, leading to an increase in flight frequencies from four to five weekly flights by July 2026. This growth contributed to an 8% year-on-year increase in total passenger traffic between Spain and Argentina, while established carriers like Aerolíneas Argentinas experienced a decrease in volume.

On August 22, 2026, a Plus Ultra Airbus A330-200 operating flight PUE502 from Buenos Aires to Madrid was forced to make an emergency landing at Natal International Airport in Brazil following an engine failure or cabin pressure issue over the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew disembarked without injury. 

Following the landing, passengers reported hearing “loud noises similar to an explosion” and experiencing a sudden loss of altitude. The incident left between 292 and 400 travelers, primarily from Argentina and Spain, stranded for over 48 hours. Passengers expressed distress over a lack of clear information and difficulties securing food and lodging, with some reporting they were left in vehicles in parking lots due to hotel availability issues. 

Despite Plus Ultra stating it provided assistance and accommodation, passengers have raised complaints regarding the quality of support and the handling of the situation. After several delays and a canceled replacement flight, the airline confirmed that a new service, PUE902, was scheduled to depart Natal on Tuesday evening to complete the journey to Madrid.

## Claims

- The aircraft made an emergency landing in Natal, Brazil. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The flight was traveling from Buenos Aires to Madrid. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The flight carried between 300 and 400 passengers. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The emergency was caused by a technical failure. (single source)
- The emergency was caused by a problem in one of the aircraft's turbines. (single source)
- The pilot of flight PUE502 declared an emergency. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-24: Plus Ultra flight emergency landing in Brazil strands hundreds

Hundreds of passengers traveling from Buenos Aires to Madrid were stranded in Natal, Brazil, for over 48 hours following an emergency landing by a Plus Ultra flight due to a technical failure.

23 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/plus-ultra-aircraft-involved-in-separate-emergency-incidents

### 2026-08-16: Plus Ultra drives growth in Madrid-Buenos Aires air travel

Plus Ultra's entry into the Madrid-Buenos Aires route has driven an 8% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic between Spain and Argentina, accounting for over 10,000 travelers in July 2026.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/plus-ultra-drives-growth-in-madrid-buenos-aires-air-travel

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Cite as: Plus Ultra airline operations and incidents. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/plus-ultra-airline-operations-and-incidents