Having completed a landing procedure deemed "highly risky" on a flight to Sardinia cost an EasyJet commander his sack . The matter dates back to 2016 but has only now been made known after the Court of Cassation ruled in favor of the company, the sentence was published a few days ago.
It all began when, on May 28, 2016, the Airbus departing from Malpensa for Olbia airport recorded a series of errors . When there are 30 kilometers left to the Costa Smeralda runway, the plane prepares to land. At the controls is the first officer, who acts under the control of the commander.
According to what has been reconstructed, on the first attempt "a shortcut" is chosen , which "places the plane at a height incompatible with landing ". Not only. With 20 kilometers to go, safe landing is no longer possible because the Airbus is too fast, and it is also at too high a height, about 800 feet higher than it should be. At that point the crew does not correct the trajectory but rather continues the descent. The sentence states that the commander and the first officer "demonstrate that they do not have exact control of the airplane".
In such circumstances, you walk away and try again. But here comes the second mistake : the pilots do not continue towards the sea but make a curve in the direction of the hills . "Risky" maneuver due to the strong wind and also due to the "circular trajectory being too short".
The commander passes the controls and communicates the so-called " go-around ", which "exposes the crew to the risk of losing control" of the plane, even if it is a frequent operation if carried out safely.
The landing occurs without problems, and the passengers do not notice anything. However, this does not absolve the commander from his responsibilities, so much so that he is fired. The first officer was instead sanctioned.
(Unioneonline/ss)
