An investigation has revealed that a pilot who triggered a mid-air alert after disconnecting his autopilot "may have been tired" when he tried to rush a landing. The 146 passengers on board experienced a steep 44-degree bank, well beyond the normal 33-degree safety limit, when the Aer Lingus flight from Faro in Portugal to Dublin Airport made an aborted approach to the runway in January 2025.
Official Report Details 'Aircraft Upset'
An official report by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) called the frightening ordeal an "aircraft upset" - a term used when a plane unintentionally moves outside its expected flight parameters. According to the newly-released findings, 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 tried to shortcut their path to the runway. Despite air traffic controllers specifically asking the pilots if they needed "extra track miles" to properly line up their descent, the crew pressed on. But as they arrived too high and too fast, the commander disconnected the autopilot to fully extend the aircraft's speed brakes.
Consequences and Safety Measures
This decision to fly the jet 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 dangerously low, falling below the minimum recommended speed (VLS) intended to prevent a stall on two separate occasions. A potential disaster was averted when the aircraft's automatic low-speed protection systems activated in accordance with its safety logic.
During the disruption, the flight directors briefly disappeared from the cockpit screens before the commander applied takeoff thrust to recover the aircraft. In the ensuing confusion, the jet climbed to 4,200 feet, overshooting its cleared altitude of 3,500 feet. The pilots successfully aborted the botched landing, requested radar vectors for a second approach, and landed the aircraft safely without further incident.
Following the scare, Aer Lingus banned pilots from performing orbit manoeuvres during approaches, except for in training. They have also begun advising crews to initiate a go-around if there is any doubt over a safe landing. Due to the airline's proactive safety measures, the AAIU concluded its report without issuing any further safety recommendations.
