If you’re an avid news hogger, you would have heard about this startling incident. Yup, I’m talking about the one that happened on the Air Arabia Maroc ferry flight. The Air Arabia Maroc plane was flying from Catania to Amman on September 20, 2025. In just a matter of seconds within taking off from Catania Airport, the flight descended. It descended so much that it was abnormally close to the Mediterranean Sea. So, the incident happened a month ago (exactly a month ago as I’m writing this). But the news is making the rounds only now. And that’s because Italy’s ANSV aviation regulator is sending an investigation team to probe further into the incident.
Why Did The Air Arabia Flight Plummet?
The exact cause of this descend is still being investigated. During the flight, the pilots were alerted through GPWS, an automated Ground Proximity Warning System placed in the cockpit. The system hollered at the pilots to “Pull Up” in order to avoid plunging into the ocean. The flight was moving at a height of 350 feet when the incident happened. When there was a dip to 230 feet, the pilots saw it as an emergency situation and attempted to have the plane rise. Despite their efforts to push the plane to climb, there was a point when the flight was just a few meters away from the surface of the sea. I know, it’s scary!
Did This Incident Happen During The Day?
No, in fact, this hair-raising Airbus A320 episode occurred during night. At 9.57 p.m., to be precise. As it happened with minimal light, the pilots wouldn’t have been able to exactly gauge how close they were to the sea.
What About The Passengers On The Air Arabia Flight?
There were no passengers on board during this incident. The flight had only 6 people on board. Of these, 2 were pilots and 4 were cabin crew members. It was a ferry flight that did not carry any regular passengers.
What Happened To The Air Arabia Flight After The Descend?
Dipping drastically at 300 mph, the Air Arabia flight had a near-miss encounter encounter with the sea. The whole time, the pilots continued to perform corrective manouvers. Fortunately, the plane was able to climb again and it reached Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan without any further hiccups or issues.
What Exactly Is The GPWS?
GPWS, or Ground Proximity warning system is an integral safety system on all flights. It is designed to notify pilots about potential contact with obstacles on their flight path. These obstacles could be mountains, towers or even as in this case, the sea. They have in-built sensors and algorithms that detect obstacles and track their proximity with the flight, thus sending timely visual and auditory signals to the pilots.
Similar Incidents This Year – EasyJet and Air India
Earlier this year, An EasyJet plane that took off from Manchester Airport faced a similar alarming incident when it came in close proximity with a mountain while landing. The flight was heading to Egypt, when it came within 771ft of a mountain peak. Like a true hero, the GPWS was quick to issue an alert, allowing the pilots to take swift action and avoid disaster. Thankfully, no lives were lost. And no damage occurred either.
In a similar way, Air India Boeing 777 flight from Delhi to Vienna had a narrow escape on June 14 this year. Due to adverse weather conditions, the aircraft lost 900 feet while rising. With GPWS alerts, the pilots were able to perform corrective measures and have the plane climb.
Was It Weather Conditions That Triggered The Air Arabia Flight Incident?
Unless officially stated, we can never be sure of the prime trigger behind this descend. All we know is that it probably may not be the weather as there were no storms reported and it was quite “clear” at the time of take off. However, as reported by People during their conversation with two Airbus A320 captains, such incidents could also be triggered by even a bird strike.
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