Looking back on EasyJet Flight 6074

EASYJET AIRBUS A320-214 OE-INE (MSN 7750)

On the 15th of September 2006, approximately 85 minutes into its journey, EasyJet Flight 6074, an Airbus A319 flying from Alicante (ALC/LEAL) to Bristol (BRS/EGGD), suffered an electrical systems failure near Nantes, France, while cruising at 32,000 feet (FL320). This failure rendered multiple aircraft systems, including the radios, autopilot, ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor) the captain's electronic flight instrument display, and TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) inoperative.

Consequently, the A319 nearly collided with American Airlines Flight AAL63, a Boeing 777-223ER. The transponder, essential for ATC tracking, was also disabled. Ten minutes before a shift change, ATC lost Flight 6074 from radar. In response, ATC instructed AAL63 to descend to 31,000 feet (FL310) and check for EasyJet Flight 6074 on their TCAS, which returned a negative. After the shift change, the new controller repeated the descent command to AAL63. At 11:01:17 local time, AAL63 commenced descent. Shortly after, AAL63 reported sighting an "EasyJet 737" overhead, which was not indicated by TCAS due to the disabled system on EZY6074. 

Subsequently, the pilots of EasyJet Flight 6074 managed to reconfigure their transponder, and a minute later, the code changed to 7700, indicating a general emergency. Attempts to contact ATC using mobile phones were unsuccessful before landing. The crew could not restore most of the aircraft's electrical systems but managed to land safely at Bristol Airport without further communication with air traffic control.

Due to radio failures, EasyJet Flight 6074 proceeded to Bristol to prevent potential interception by fighter jets under the suspicion of hijacking. Air traffic control halted all departures and arrivals at the airport. The aircraft completed a safe landing in Bristol.