EasyJet Pilot Suspended After Near-Disastrous Flight Over Mountain
Imagine you're on a flight, heading towards a beautiful holiday destination, completely unaware that your plane is just seconds away from potential disaster. That’s exactly what happened to 190 passengers aboard an EasyJet flight from Manchester to Hurghada, Egypt. The flight, piloted by Captain Paul Elsworth, encountered a terrifying close call with a mountain, leading to his immediate suspension while an investigation unfolds.
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As the Airbus A320 approached its destination, the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) in the cockpit suddenly blared an urgent alert: “Pull up, terrain! Terrain ahead, pull up!” This system is the last line of defense against controlled flight into terrain, meaning the aircraft was dangerously close to crashing into a mountain. Quick reactions and a last-minute maneuver—pulling the joystick to level off—averted what could have been a catastrophic event.
To put things into perspective, the plane was flying at just 3,100 feet over a mountain range, with the nearest peak standing at 2,329 feet. That left a mere 771 feet of clearance—a dangerously low altitude considering that aircraft normally maintain at least 6,000 feet in this area. The descent rate was reportedly 4,928 feet per minute, an alarmingly steep drop described by experts as “ridiculously unsafe.”
What’s even more shocking? The passengers onboard had no idea just how close they came to disaster. They continued their journey blissfully unaware, while aviation authorities quickly moved to assess the situation. Once the incident was reported, EasyJet wasted no time in taking action. Captain Elsworth was immediately grounded, preventing him from flying the return journey to Manchester. Instead, another crew was assigned to take the aircraft back home. He was then flown back as a passenger, awaiting further review.
As the investigation continues, aviation experts are looking into multiple factors, including why the aircraft was descending so rapidly and whether human error played a significant role. The Civil Aviation Authority will also assess how EasyJet manages its risk protocols and whether safety procedures were adequately followed.
Interestingly, Captain Elsworth isn’t a stranger to headlines. Back in 2016, he gained attention when his son, Luke, became the youngest professional pilot at just 19 years old, following in his father’s footsteps. Now, however, Elsworth finds himself under intense scrutiny as authorities try to piece together exactly what went wrong.
EasyJet has assured the public that safety remains their top priority. They emphasized that all pilots undergo rigorous training and testing, and that the flight ultimately landed safely in Hurghada. However, given the severity of this near-miss, there are serious questions to be answered about how such an incident could occur in the first place.
While passengers were lucky this time, this serves as a sobering reminder of the fine margin between routine flights and potential catastrophe. The aviation industry prides itself on stringent safety measures, but when incidents like this happen, it highlights just how crucial it is to remain vigilant at all times. As the investigation unfolds, many will be watching closely to see what lessons can be learned to prevent anything like this from happening again.
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