A flight from Manchester to Hurghada faced a near miss with a mountain, prompting a Ground Proximity Warning System alert.
An EasyJet flight carrying 190 passengers found itself in a precarious situation shortly before landing in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada, Egypt. The incident, which occurred during the flight’s approach, involved the aircraft coming alarmingly close to a mountain, prompting the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) to issue alerts indicating an impending terrain-related disaster.
The flight, which had departed from Manchester, faced a dramatic scenario when the GPWS activated with repeated warnings, stating, “pull up, terrain, terrain, pull up, pull up, terrain ahead, pull up.” Reports indicate that the peak of the mountain was a mere 771 feet away from the aircraft at one point during the descent, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Following the incident, EasyJet grounded Captain Paul Elsworth, the pilot of the flight, and he has been suspended as the airline conducts an investigation. A spokesperson for EasyJet reportedly stated, “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.” They confirmed that while the flight landed safely, Capt Elsworth would remain off duty in accordance with standard procedures.
It has been revealed that passengers aboard the flight were largely unaware of the hazards faced during the approach, with a source noting that, “Passengers on-board are understood to have been oblivious to the scare, and unaware of just how close they came to the mountain range as the plane descended into Egypt.” After the incident, another flight crew took over the responsibilities of piloting the aircraft back to the UK, while Capt Elsworth returned as a passenger.
As investigations continue, both EasyJet and aviation authorities will be looking into the circumstances surrounding the close call to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.gbnews.com/news/easyjet-plane-manchester-seconds-away-disaster-emergency-manoeuvre-hitting-mountain – This article corroborates the incident involving an EasyJet flight from Manchester being seconds away from disaster due to a close approach to a mountain. It mentions the pilot’s actions and the subsequent investigation.
- https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/easyjet-flight-from-england-to-egypt-plunges-to-dangerous-altitude-at-hurghada-airport-triggering-emergency-alarm-as-airline-suspends-pilot-and-launches-investigation – This article supports the details of the EasyJet flight descending too close to a mountain near Hurghada Airport, triggering emergency alarms and resulting in the pilot’s suspension.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as the original provider of the information regarding the EasyJet incident, though specific details from this site are not available in the search results.
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/22/2024-07496/guidance-for-federal-financial-assistance – This URL does not directly relate to the EasyJet incident but is included as it was part of the search results. It pertains to federal financial assistance guidance and does not support any claims about the flight.
- https://www.browardschools.com/cms/lib/FL01803656/Centricity/Domain/19576/AMSCO%20AP%20US%20History%20Textbook.pdf – This URL does not relate to the EasyJet incident. It is an AP US History textbook and does not support any claims about the flight.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative does not indicate any outdated information or recycled news. However, without a specific date in the narrative, it’s difficult to assess its absolute freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quotes provided are not verified against earlier sources. The lack of online references for these specific quotes suggests they might be original, but without further confirmation, the score remains moderate.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Birmingham Mail, a reputable local news outlet in the UK. This generally suggests a reliable source, though local news may sometimes lack the depth of national or international publications.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The incident described is plausible given the context of aviation safety incidents. However, specific details such as the exact distance from the mountain peak and the pilot’s suspension could not be verified independently.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and originates from a generally reliable source. However, the lack of independent verification for specific quotes and details means the story cannot be fully confirmed without additional evidence.
