An easyJet flight operating from Bristol to Marrakesh returned to Bristol International Airport after declaring an emergency on 2 January 2025.
According to the online source Flight Emergency, the emergency arose when flight crew detected the odour of smoke in the cockpit.
easyJet U22963 Bristol-Marrakesh
EasyJet flight U22963, operated by an Airbus A320-200, had conducted a departure out of Bristol International Airport (BRS). The flight was a scheduled service bound for Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK).
Having established in cruising flight, flight crew declared the emergency as the aircraft passed over French airspace on the outbound track for Morocco. Emergency transponder code 7700 was then transmitted.
Following the emergency declaration, flight crew elected to make a precautionary return to the origin airport.
The aircraft subsequently landed on runway 09 Bristol International Airport, just over two hours after its initial departure.
The airline has mustered a replacement aircraft to conduct the onwards scheduled service to Marrakesh Menara Airport.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that flight UA22963 had made an on-time departure from Bristol at 1016 local time on 2 January.
The flighted then set course normally, climbing to flight level FL360 for the southerly service to Marrakesh.
Soon after the aircraft established in cruising flight, the emergency was declared as the aircraft passed over Brittany, France. Flight crew squawked transponder code 7700 at 1105 UTC.
A descent and a direct return track to the origin airport was then carried out.
The aircraft conducting the aborted UA22963 service to Marrakesh was an Airbus A320-200, registered G-EZUK. This is a 13.6 year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier easyJet. It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in June 2011.
The aircraft was involved in a prior incident in November 2021 when it suffered a loss of cabin pressure en route from Jersey to Glasgow.
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