An EasyJet Airbus A320 was forced to make an emergency landing at Manchester Airport on Saturday, February 7, following a series of mechanical faults. The aircraft, registered as G-EZWK, had experienced similar issues the previous day while approaching Edinburgh Airport.
The flight, U23241, departed from Edinburgh for Paris Charles de Gaulle at 7:15 am but declared a general emergency (squawk 7700) about an hour later. The plane circled south of Manchester before landing safely at 8:23 am. Passengers reported a tense atmosphere as pilots dealt with the recurrence of mechanical instability.
The previous evening, the same aircraft had encountered pneumatic and electrical failures, including issues with engine high-pressure valves and a right wing leak. Despite the extensive list of faults, the plane was cleared for service the following day, according to aviation website AirLive.
EasyJet confirmed the diversion was due to a technical issue and stated that passengers were transferred to a replacement aircraft to continue their journey to Paris. The airline emphasised that safety is its highest priority and that it operates in strict compliance with manufacturer guidelines.
The 12-year-old Airbus A320 remains in Manchester for a deep-dive inspection by engineering teams. Aviation experts have raised questions about maintenance intervals given the simultaneous failure of redundant systems.
