An easyJet’s pilot was suspended from flying after his plane flew less 800ft over a mountain range as it travelled to Egypt on February 2.
EasyJet pilot suspended after A320 came close to colliding with a mountain as the plane descended towards the Red Sea resort of Hurghada in Egypt.
An official investigation into the February 2 incident of Flight U22251 will include details of the incident.
A cockpit alarm was triggered amid concerns of an impending crash. The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerted “pull up, terrain, terrain, pull up, pull up, terrain ahead, pull up”.
The A320-200 (registration G-UZHA), which had been travelling from Manchester to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, flew over the mountain range at an altitude of just 3,100ft, with the peak of the mountain being 2,329ft.
Pilots are understood to normally clear the mountain range at around 6,000ft.
The Captain made headlines in 2016 when his son Luke became the youngest professional pilot at just 19 after following in his father’s footsteps at EasyJet.
EasyJet told media yesterday: “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.”
