An investigation has revealed that a pilot who disconnected the autopilot, triggering a mid-air alert, may have been tired when he rushed a landing attempt. The incident occurred on an Aer Lingus flight from Faro, Portugal, to Dublin Airport, Ireland, in January 2025.
The 146 passengers on board experienced a steep 44-degree bank, exceeding the normal 33-degree safety limit, during an aborted approach to the runway. The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) described the event as an "aircraft upset," a term used when a plane unintentionally moves outside its expected flight parameters.
Pilot's admission
The flight's commander told investigators he "did not sleep well the night before the flight and that he may have been tired." The incident happened on January 14, 2025, as the crew attempted to shortcut their path to the runway.
Despite air traffic controllers asking if the pilots needed "extra track miles" to properly line up their descent, the crew pressed on. As they arrived too high and too fast, the commander disconnected the autopilot to fully extend the aircraft's speed brakes.
Loss of situational awareness
This decision to fly manually led to "degraded situational awareness," according to the AAIU. The crew attempted a descending orbit to the right to lose altitude, which resulted in the severe 44-degree bank.
During the sharp turn, the Airbus A320's speed dropped below the minimum recommended speed (VLS) on two separate occasions, risking a stall. The aircraft's automatic low-speed protection systems activated, averting a potential disaster.
Recovery and aftermath
The flight directors briefly disappeared from the cockpit screens before the commander applied takeoff thrust to recover the aircraft. In the confusion, the jet climbed to 4,200 feet, overshooting its cleared altitude of 3,500 feet.
The pilots aborted the landing, requested radar vectors for a second approach, and landed safely. Following the scare, Aer Lingus banned pilots from performing orbit manoeuvres during approaches except in training, and began advising crews to initiate a go-around if there is any doubt over a safe landing.
Due to these proactive safety measures, the AAIU concluded its report without issuing further safety recommendations.
