An easyJet pilot has been suspended after his aircraft, carrying up to 190 passengers, flew alarmingly close to mountains as it descended toward Egypt. Captain Paul Elsworth was piloting the flight from Manchester Airport to the popular Red Sea resort town of Hurghada on February 2, 2025.
During the descent, the aircraft—an Airbus A320—triggered the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS), which is engineered to alert pilots to potential collisions with terrain. Reports indicate the plane came perilously close, just 770 feet away from the mountain peak, flying at only 3,100 feet when it typically should have been at around 6,000 feet to safely navigate the region.
Sources reported to The Sun stated the aircraft was descending at 4,928 feet per minute when the alarms went off. An official investigation has been launched, prompted by Captain Elsworth’s own decision to report the near-miss the following day, February 3, just before he was scheduled to return to Hurghada to pilot another flight. Consequently, easyJet prevented him from returning as pilot, and he was flown back to Manchester as a passenger.
An insider revealed to The Sun: "Within moments of the flight drama being raised, officials stepped in and Paul Elsworth was forbidden from piloting the plane. Another flight crew brought the jet home. The pilot will be asked detailed questions. The GPWS only signals when a plane is heading toward terrain—in this case, mountains. Passengers on board appeared unaware of the potential danger during the descent.”
Upon returning to the UK, Captain Elsworth was officially suspended as inquiries continued. Both his and the First Officer's accounts will be pivotal to determining the sequence of events. Elsworth stated, through representatives, it would be inappropriate for him to comment amid the pending investigation.
EasyJet has acknowledged the serious nature of the incident, asserting, "Safety is the number one priority for all our pilots; they are trained to the highest industry standards, subject to rigorous testing and monitored closely." The airline confirmed the flight landed safely, and due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Elsworth remains off duty pending the investigation's outcome.
The incident raises significant concerns about air safety protocols and pilot training, especially as passenger aircraft are expected to operate with strict adherence to altitude regulations over mountainous areas. Such occurrences could potentially have catastrophic outcomes, drawing attention to the importance of adherence to safety measures.
While this was not disclosed to passengers at the time, it's reported they remained blissfully unaware of how close they came to disaster. With the investigation now underway, many within the aviation industry are keeping close tabs on how this situation will develop and whether it might lead to changes in regulations or pilot training procedures.
Flight safety experts suggest incidents like this, where the GPWS alerts pilots to imminent danger, highlight both the precariousness of flying and the sophisticated technology devices meant to safeguard aircraft and their occupants. Delving deep, aviation experts are analyzing what went wrong and how the aircraft descended unduly low, and they are expected to offer insights throughout the investigative process.
Such incidents remind the public of the inherent risks of air travel, albeit one understood by most regular passengers. Airlines like easyJet maintain strict adherence to safety regulations, regularly revisiting pilot training protocols, to mitigate any risk. Events such as these, where lives could have been jeopardized due to pilot error or systemic failures, often result in reviews of current safety standards.
While the crew involved is now under scrutiny, it is also pivotal to look at the methods of investigation, which will likely take time to officially conclude. EasyJet stressed their commitment to resolving this matter effectively and painted their investigation effort as diligent and necessary to prevent future occurrences.
Moving forward, this incident will undoubtedly contribute to the dialogue on air travel safety, particularly focusing on pilot training and procedural adherence by airlines. With Captain Elsworth’s suspension now confirmed, the industry waits with bated breath for the findings of this investigation and any recommendations stemming from potential deficiencies uncovered during the review.