Operation TAP: Netflix’s First Portuguese Film Turns a Real 1980 Hijacking Into a Human Drama

A teenager, a plane, a $10 million demand and a night nobody on board would forget. Netflix has started filming Operation TAP, its very first Portuguese feature film, and the…

By Reetam Bodhak

November 5, 2026

2 min read

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A teenager, a plane, a $10 million demand and a night nobody on board would forget. Netflix has started filming Operation TAP, its very first Portuguese feature film, and the true story behind it is hard to look away from.

Operation TAP : Overview

Detail	Info
Title	Operation TAP
Platform	Netflix Original (first Portuguese film)
Genre	Period drama / true-story thriller
Leads	Victoria Guerra, Afonso Pimentel, Rui Pedro Silva
Director	João Nuno Pinto (Mosquito)
Writers	Pedro Lopes, Miguel Rico, Marina Preguiça Ribeiro
Production	SPi (SP Televisão Group)
Status	Filming underway in Portugal
Release date	Not announced

The Story Behind the Film

The movie is loosely inspired by a real 1980 hijacking of a TAP Air Portugal flight. In the film, an armed teenager takes over a plane bound for Madrid and demands $10 million, turning passengers and crew into hostages for one tense night.

But this isn’t just a ticking-clock thriller. Netflix says the story shifts into something unexpected: a tale of empathy and humanity between the young hijacker and the people he holds captive. That emotional twist could set it apart from typical hijack dramas.

Meet the Cast

Three leads headline the film:

Rui Pedro Silva makes his Netflix debut. He’s known for A Herança, Finisterra and Sempre.
Afonso Pimentel returns to Netflix after Glória and Turn of the Tide.
Victoria Guerra also appeared in Glória and Turn of the Tide, plus the Spanish thriller Santo.

The familiar faces suggest Netflix is building on the success of its earlier Portuguese projects.

Why It Matters?

Netflix keeps investing across Europe, and Portugal is now getting its first original feature. SPi, the company behind Glória, is producing, so the project has a proven partner. For fans of international cinema, this is a milestone worth watching.

What to Watch While You Wait?

Release timing hasn’t been shared, but filming is underway, so it will likely be a while. In the meantime, check our Netflix international content updates and the latest OTT news on Techno Sports for more global releases.