An EasyJet flight was seconds from crashing into lake

EASYJET AIRBUS A319-111 G-EZGG (MSN 4640)

An easyJet flight carrying 157 passengers almost crashed into a Swiss lake, it has now been discovered.
Flight EZY43PL was coming into land at Geneva Airport (GVA/LSGG) when it descended to an unsafe altitude and was said to be just seconds from disaster. An investigation found that the flight from Edinburgh (EDI/EGPH) on the 5th of November was well below the safe glide slope altitude while still 7.5 miles from the runway.

Air traffic control staff were forced to alert the pilots that they were flying 1,500 feet lower than they should have been and told them: ‘Check your altitude immediately’.

The pilots were only able to accelerate and regain altitude at the same time the cockpit low altitude warning system sounded. They were able to avoid a collision with the water at the last second and looped over Thonon once they regained altitude.

During the approach to runway 22, the flight got down as low as 750 feet before quickly climbing back up to 7,600 and performing a go around. If the plane had continued on a downward trajectory, it would have crashed into the lake within 30 seconds. On a second attempt the pilots were able to land the plane.

The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) said it had opened an investigation into the incident.

It classified the incident as ‘serious’, and said the aircraft sunk well below the ‘descent line’ during its approach. A descent line is the angle an aircraft needs to maintain a safe height as it approaches the runway. 

‘The control tower instructed the aircraft to follow one of the shortest approaches, which runs between Gland and Rolle.’ They said this forces crews to descend quickly rather than passing the Jura mountains, which flights from the UK usually fly over.

The pilots were stood down for a short time but are now flying again.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: EASYJET UK

Code: U2/EZY

Aircraft: Airbus A320-251

Registration: G-UZLO

Serial Number: 11530

Engine: 2 x CFMI LEAP-1A26
First Flew: 10/06/2023

Age: 7 Months.