Air Europa flight AEA024 from Asunción to Madrid was diverted and made an emergency landing in Salvador, Bahia, after a technical failure on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying about 300 passengers. The airline said the decision followed its operational and safety protocols and sent a technical team to Brazil to carry out the necessary maintenance.
The aircraft, which was named RCD Mallorca in January 2025, was temporarily taken out of service. Images released by passengers show work being carried out on one of the engines, although Air Europa said the turbine was not damaged. The company apologized for the disruption and said it had prioritized passenger and crew safety.
The technical problem was accompanied by passenger reports of possible ticks in the cabin. Perla Zaracho said she was bitten during the journey and found insects in backpacks, blankets, bags and several seats. She also reported a smell of damp and urine inside the aircraft. Raúl Quiñónez Rodas, a Paraguayan living in Portugal, said a flight attendant used insecticide after a passenger noticed an insect.
The infestation claim has not been independently confirmed. A report citing information from El Confidencial said the aircraft was reportedly isolated and placed under quarantine for emergency fumigation. The responsible authorities and the implementation of those measures have not been independently confirmed. Air Europa has not so far provided a specific explanation for the reports about the insects. The emergency landing was attributed to the technical incident, while the tick reports were passenger allegations and did not cause the landing according to the available sources.
After landing in Salvador, travelers were referred for accommodation and reported waiting about four hours for a hotel to be assigned. Rivas referred to “widespread fear” among the passengers, while Quiñónez criticized the lack of company staff to provide assistance on the ground.
To reduce the impact on the journey, Air Europa announced that the Salvador–Madrid leg would be operated with another Boeing 787-9 with greater capacity. Passengers unable to board would be rebooked on a new schedule, with the option to change the date or route at no additional cost.