A Wizz Air plane carrying more than 160 passengers and crew came within two seconds of disaster at Luton Airport after a near-fatal pilot error during take-off. Flight 5411, bound for Athens in April last year, took off from the major London hub with just 532 feet (162m) of tarmac to spare, according to findings from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) published on Thursday (July 9).
Near Miss on Runway
Telegraph analysis of FlightRadar24 tracking data indicates the Boeing 737 Max was travelling at 146 knots when it left the ground, meaning the jet would have overrun the runway had it remained on the ground for only two more seconds. The pilot - who was not a Wizz Air pilot - had accepted a shortcut offered by air traffic controllers, allowing them to begin their departure from partway along the runway rather than using its full length.
This type of manoeuvre, known as an intersection departure, requires pilots to recalculate their V speeds – the critical velocity figures that determine when an aircraft can safely become airborne. Although the flight crew believed they had correctly updated these calculations in the Flight Management Computer to account for the reduced runway distance, investigators found the figures had not been properly entered. The error resulted in insufficient engine power being applied, causing an extended take-off roll and sluggish initial climb.
Safety Regulations Violated
The aircraft passed over the runway's far end at a height of just 13 feet, falling well short of the 35-foot minimum mandated by aviation safety regulations to ensure adequate clearance over obstacles. If the aircraft had lost engine power during takeoff, it would not have had enough runway to stop safely if it had been aborted, or enough altitude to clear obstacles if it had continued.
Following the investigation, the operator reviewed its procedures and distributed fresh guidance to flight crews. Ascend Airways, the British charter company that had been operating the service on behalf of Wizz Air UK, went into administration earlier this year.
Passengers and Aftermath
The Greece-bound service was transporting 162 passengers along with six crew members when the incident occurred. Despite the alarming takeoff, the flight proceeded to Athens without further incident. The aircraft completed three additional journeys that day.
A Wizz Air spokesperson told the Express: “Wizz Air confirms that the flight referenced in the AAIB bulletin of 9 July 2026 was operated under a charter arrangement connected to Wizz Air UK. Safety is, and always remains, Wizz Air’s highest priority. Following the event, the matter was reviewed with the operating airline. Wizz Air notes the publication of the latest AAIB bulletin and remains committed to safety.”
