An investigation has been launched following a concerning incident involving an EasyJet flight that descended well below the glide path while approaching Geneva airport. According to reports from Edinburgh News, the flight was en route to Switzerland from Edinburgh. An interim report by Swiss investigators revealed that the aircraft dropped to a dangerously low altitude, nearly colliding with Lake Geneva. The aircraft, an Airbus A320 Neo, was carrying 157 passengers and was reported to be just 750 feet above the water’s surface while still 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) away from the runway.
The incident occurred in November of last year, and the Swiss Safety Investigation Board (SUST) emphasized that the aircraft should have maintained a significantly higher altitude at that stage of its descent.
“During the approach to runway 22, the aircraft descended significantly below the glideslope, prompting the flight crew to initiate a go-around,” stated the Swiss Safety Investigation Service (SESE).
The pilots were alerted by air traffic controllers, who urged them to “check your altitude immediately.” Subsequently, the pilots accelerated rapidly and executed a loop over the French commune of Thonoe-les-Bains. Although the pilots were temporarily placed on leave following the incident, they have since resumed their duties, as reported by Edinburgh News.
The specific cause of the near-miss has yet to be determined, with a comprehensive report expected from Swiss authorities.
An EasyJet spokeswoman stated, “We are fully supporting the investigation in line with procedures. At no point was the safety of those onboard compromised. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always EasyJet’s highest priority.”