What started as a routine flight from Manchester to the Egyptian resort of Hurghada quickly turned into a terrifying near-miss.
An easyJet pilot, Captain Paul Elsworth, was suspended after flying dangerously close to a mountain, triggering alarms in the cockpit and narrowly avoiding disaster.
A Warning System That Came Just in Time
The aircraft, an Airbus A320 carrying 190 passengers and crew, was descending for landing when the cockpit’s Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) blared out an urgent alert: “Pull up, terrain, terrain, pull up!”
The plane was far lower than it should have been, crossing a 2,329ft peak at just 3,100ft—well below the recommended altitude of 6,000ft for clearing the mountain range.
At a steep descent rate of nearly 5,000ft per minute, the risk of collision was alarmingly high.
Only a last-second maneuver by Elsworth to level the aircraft prevented what could have been a catastrophic crash.
Immediate Action and Investigation
Although the pilot initially failed to report the incident, easyJet officials quickly realized the gravity of the situation.
The airline took swift action, preventing Elsworth from flying back to the UK and instead assigning another crew to operate the return flight.
Though investigators have yet to assign official blame, easyJet has removed Elsworth from duty while an internal investigation is underway.
A company spokesperson confirmed, “Safety is our number one priority, and our pilots undergo rigorous training and monitoring. The flight landed safely, and the investigation is ongoing.”
Passengers Unaware of the Danger
Remarkably, those on board had no idea how close they came to disaster.
Despite the cockpit alarms and last-minute maneuver, passengers remained oblivious to the fact that their flight had nearly ended in tragedy.
A Familiar Name in Aviation
This isn’t the first time Elsworth’s name has made headlines.
In 2016, his son, Luke, became Britain’s youngest professional pilot at just 19 years old.
At the time, Elsworth expressed immense pride, saying, “Luke has worked really hard. I have as much confidence in Luke flying as I have in myself.”
Given recent events, those words now carry a different weight.
What Happens Next?
EasyJet has yet to announce the final outcome of their investigation, but one thing is clear—aviation safety remains a top priority.
With stringent protocols in place, incidents like these serve as a reminder of how crucial pilot training and adherence to safety procedures are.
As authorities continue their review, Captain Elsworth’s future in the cockpit remains uncertain.
One wrong move nearly led to disaster, but thanks to last-minute action, a tragedy was averted.