EasyJet UK flight seconds from crashing into Alps after hurtling towards lake

An EasyJet UK flight was seconds from crashing into the Alps after hurtling towards a lake.

Back in November last year, the Airbus A320 left Edinburgh Airport with 157 passengers for Geneva’s Cointrin Airport.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing after local reports claim the plane was just 30 seconds from crashing into Lake Geneva.

It is reported the EasyJet plane dropped to a dangerously low altitude and Swiss air traffic controllers were then forced to intervene.

Local newspaper 24 Heures shares that the plane was just 750 feet above the surface of the lake, while still 7.5 miles from the runway where it was due to land on 5 November.

At this point in its descent, the plane ought to have been about three times higher.

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Edinburgh Evening News reports that the Swiss air traffic controllers urged the plane’s crew to ‘check your altitude immediately’.

The Swiss Safety Investigation Service (SESE) said in a interim report: "During the approach to runway 22, the aircraft descended significantly below the glideslope and the flight crew initiated a go-around."

It is also reported by 24 Heures that if the air traffic controllers hadn’t intervened, the plane would have crashed in another 30 seconds if it had followed its current trajectory– narrowly escaping horror for the passengers.

The pilots managed to avoid the crash by accelerating rapidly and looping over French commune Thonon-les-Bains.

After this terrifying incident, the pilots involved were placed on leave but have since resumed their flying duties.

The SESE launched an investigation into the near-miss, which is currently ongoing and shared a short interim report.

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When approached by LADbible, the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board explained no further information could be provided regarding their ongoing investigation.

The reason for this scary incident has not yet been issued and a full report is still to come from the Swiss authorities.

One expert told the newspaper Blick that it could have occurred due to a ‘shortcut’ route the pilots followed which led them between Gland and Rolle and forced them to drop to a low altitude due to the Jura mountains.

EasyJet told LADbible they are currently unable to provide details of the Alps incident due to the ongoing investigation.

A spokesperson for the airline said in a statement: “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.”