Air Arabia flight nearly dives into sea moments after takeoff; investigation launched

A safety investigation has been launched after an Air Arabia flight nearly plunged into the Mediterranean Sea moments after taking off from Sicily, raising serious safety concerns.

The incident, which triggered a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alert, is now classified by Italian authorities as a “serious incident.”

Air Arabia close call over Mediterranean

On 20 September 2025 at 21:57 UTC, an Air Arabia Airbus A320 aircraft, registration CN-NML, departed from Catania Airport on Sicily’s east coast, bound for Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft descended dangerously close to the sea, prompting the GPWS to issue an emergency pull-up message to the flight crew.

The Italian aviation authority, Agenzia Nazionale Per La Sicurezza Del Volo (ANSV), confirmed that the warning was triggered as the aircraft approached the sea surface, coming “a short distance from it.” The aircraft continued the flight without further incident. There were no passengers on board, but two pilots and four cabin crew members were present during the flight. ANSV classified the event as a serious incident following a preliminary review of information provided by the operator.

According to reports from Corriere Della Sera, the Airbus reached a perilously low altitude of just 200 feet above the Mediterranean Sea, flying at a speed exceeding 480 kilometres per hour. The unusual sequence occurred despite good weather conditions, making the sudden descent even more alarming. Two Airbus A320 captains interviewed by Italian media expressed surprise at the manoeuvre. One speculated that the incident could have resulted from a bird strike or an error in calculating the takeoff weights.After the incident, ANSV issued a statement outlining what happened and confirming the activation of the aircraft’s Ground Proximity Warning System. Their update provided the first authoritative account of what had occurred during the near-sea descent.“On 20 September 2025, at 21.57 UTC, shortly after takeoff from Catania Airport, an Air Arabia Airbus A320 aircraft, registration CN-NML, bound for Queen Alia International Airport (Jordan), received a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) pull-up message. This occurred as the aircraft approached the sea surface, reaching a short distance from it. The flight continued without further incident. There were no passengers on board, and two pilots and four cabin crew members were present. After a preliminary review of the information received from the operator, ANSV opened a safety investigation, classifying the event as a serious incident.” Italian regulator Agenzia Nazionale Per La Sicurezza Del Volo said in a statement.

Air Arabia Maroc, the operator of the flight, confirmed awareness of the investigation in a statement to Khaleej Times, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to safety and transparency:“We are aware of reports concerning an Air Arabia Maroc ferry flight operating from Catania to Amman on September 20, 2025, which mentioned the activation of the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) during the flight. Air Arabia Maroc places the highest importance on safety and transparency. We are fully cooperating with the Italian National Agency for Flight Safety (ANSV) as part of the ongoing investigation.” The airline reiterated that no passengers were on board, and the flight continued safely under the supervision of the two pilots and four cabin crew members.

Air Arabia: fleet, operations, and context

Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), has a fleet that includes the Airbus A320neo, with the airline having received its first A320neo aircraft on 20 September 2025 as part of an order for 120 A320 Family aircraft placed with Airbus in 2019. According to Khaleej Times, the aircraft involved, CN-NML, was operated by Air Arabia Maroc, a joint venture and member of the Air Arabia Group. Air Arabia Maroc is based at Mohamed V International Airport in Casablanca, Morocco, the airline’s second hub. The carrier, Morocco’s low-cost airline, was launched on 29 April 2009 and provides flights to a wide range of European destinations. Air Arabia operates across six main hubs:

The investigation by ANSV is ongoing, and authorities continue to gather and analyse data to determine the exact cause of the near-sea descent.