On February 2, 2025, an easyJet flight from Manchester, UK, to Hurghada, Egypt, flew dangerously close to a mountain range, triggering an onboard warning system. As a result, the pilot has been placed on inactive duty.
EasyJet flight U2 2251 was cruising at 37,000 feet without issues. However, during descent, the ground proximity warning system (GPWS) suddenly activated, indicating that the Airbus A320neo (registration G-UZHA) was too close to mountainous terrain. Flight data suggests the aircraft indeed descended near rugged terrain.
Radar data from FlightRadar24 confirms that the aircraft was at 37,000 feet before the pilots began their descent at 18:36 local time. A few minutes later, the aircraft reached its lowest calibrated altitude of 2,900 feet. Suddenly, the easyJet plane climbed to 3,750 feet, sixteen minutes after beginning descent. An investigation by Simple Flying revealed that pilots on similar flights typically descend to around 6,000 feet, making this incident highly unusual.
‘Stood Down’
Upon inquiry, it has been confirmed that the pilot has been placed on inactive duty—or ‘stood down’, as the British phrasing politely puts it. According to an easyJet spokesperson, the pilot has been ‘temporarily removed from duty in accordance with our standard procedures.’ The spokesperson also emphasized that safety remains the airline’s top priority:
‘Safety is the first priority for all our pilots. They are trained to the highest industry standards, subjected to rigorous testing, and closely monitored. The flight landed safely, and the pilot remains employed during the ongoing investigation, as per our procedures.’