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1 month ago
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An EasyJet flight carrying 190 passengers narrowly avoided catastrophe when it came dangerously close to a mountain en route to Egypt. The pilot, Captain Paul Elsworth, has been suspended following the harrowing incident near the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
According to The Sun, the aircraft's Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) was activated, issuing urgent commands in the cockpit: 'pull up, terrain, terrain, pull up, pull up, terrain ahead, pull up. ' This close shave occurred with 190 passengers and crew on board the low-cost airline, which competes with Jet2, TUI, and Ryanair.
The aircraft, having taken off from Manchester, found itself a mere 771ft from the mountain's peak. Following the event, Capt Elsworth, aged 61, was prohibited from flying the aircraft back to the UK, as company officials intervened immediately upon learning of the near-miss.
A source disclosed: "Within moments of the flight drama being raised, officials stepped in and Paul Elsworth was forbidden from piloting the plane. Another flight crew brought the jet home. The pilot will be asked detailed questions. The GPWS only sounds when a plane is heading into terrain - in this instance a mountain."
Passengers on the flight were reportedly unaware of the tense moments they experienced, oblivious to the near-miss with a mountain range during their plane's descent into Egypt. Captain Elsworth was later sent back home as a passenger following the incident, reports Birmingham Live.
EasyJet emphasised their commitment to safety in a statement to The Sun, saying: "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."
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