Airbus A320’s Ground Proximity Warning System Triggered Before Last-Second Manoeuvre
An EasyJet pilot has been suspended after flying too close to a mountain while approaching Hurghada, Egypt, with 190 passengers and crew on board.
The incident occurred in February when the aircraft’s Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) was triggered, alerting the cockpit that the plane was dangerously close to terrain.
The pilot, Captain Paul Elsworth, had to pull the joystick up at the last second to avoid the mountain range, preventing what could have been a catastrophic crash.
EasyJet Confirms Investigation Is Underway
A spokesperson for EasyJet confirmed that an internal investigation is ongoing, and the pilot remains stood down from duty.
“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 flight landed normally and as we have an ongoing investigation, the pilot remains stood down from duty in line with procedures.”
Plane Was Just 771ft Above Mountain Peak
According to reports, the Airbus A320 was descending at 4,928ft per minute before the warning sounded.
The aircraft flew at an altitude of just 3,100ft, with the mountain peak below standing at 2,329ft—meaning the jet was only 771ft away from disaster.
A source told 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.”
Passengers Unaware of Near Miss
Despite the grave danger, passengers were reportedly unaware of just how close the plane came to the mountain range as it descended into Egypt.
“The GPWS only sounds when a plane is heading into terrain – in this instance, a mountain,” the source added.
EasyJet’s investigation remains ongoing, with detailed questions expected to be asked about how the near-miss occurred.
