Pilot errors sent Air Arabia Maroc jet dangerously close to sea, investigation finds

An Air Arabia Maroc passenger jet came within 12.5 meters of crashing into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after takeoff from an Italian airport, following a series of cockpit errors compounded by time pressure and possible pilot disorientation, according to an aviation safety investigation published November 6.

The Airbus A320, registration CN-NML, was departing Catania-Fontanarossa airport in Sicily on September 20, 2025, when it began descending instead of continuing its climb. Thirty seconds after leaving the runway, the aircraft was flying approximately 500 kilometers per hour just 12.5 meters above the water.

The flight, bound for Amman, Jordan, for scheduled maintenance, carried two pilots and four cabin crew members but no passengers. It eventually climbed to safety and continued to its destination without injuries or damage.

Italy’s National Agency for Flight Safety (ANSV) traced the incident to several interacting factors, beginning with preparations for a departure shortly before the airport’s midnight closure.

The aircraft had arrived late from Casablanca, while a problem with its flight plan required attention during the stopover. Air traffic controllers twice urged the crew to accelerate preparations, although investigators concluded there had been sufficient time to complete the necessary procedures.

During the takeoff roll, the pilots noticed missing speed indications and unexpected flight guidance behavior. The captain continued despite having the option to abort at that stage.

Investigators found that takeoff reference speeds had probably not been entered into the aircraft’s flight management system, preventing the normal climb guidance mode from activating.

The aircraft initially climbed to approximately 117 meters before descending. The captain then engaged the autopilot, which followed an existing descent command, accelerating the loss of altitude.

Ground-proximity warnings subsequently sounded, including repeated instructions to pull up. The captain applied maximum thrust and attempted to recover, but the aircraft continued descending before reaching its lowest point.

Investigators also examined possible spatial disorientation. During a nighttime departure over dark water, rapid acceleration may have caused the captain to perceive a steeper climb than the aircraft was actually making, prompting downward control inputs.

The captain disputed experiencing disorientation, and investigators treated the explanation as a possibility rather than an established fact.

The findings have prompted wider safety recommendations. ANSV urged the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to consider extending software protections that alert A320 crews when takeoff speeds have not been entered.

Air Arabia Maroc has accelerated aircraft software upgrades and reinforced simulator training. The airline also terminated both pilots’ contracts, citing what it considered gross negligence.