A320, Toulouse France, 2023

A320, Toulouse France, 2023

Summary

On 30 July 2023, an Airbus A320 departed Toulouse from an intersection other than the one from which it was cleared to use without the flight crew or the tower controller noticing the error. The available takeoff distance was 500 metres less than required, and rotation occurred with only approximately 500 metres of runway remaining. The crew error was attributed to a combination of “high workload and expeditious mindset, limited attentional capacity, sub-optimal performance and confirmation bias." That the tower did not notice the crew error was assessed as a contributory factor which allowed the incorrect takeoff to occur.

Description

On 30 July 2023, an Airbus A320 (G-EJCI) operated by easyJet on a scheduled international passenger flight from Toulouse to London Gatwick as U2 8414 departed from Runway 32R in day visual conditions (VMC) without sufficient runway distance after lining up at the wrong intersection. When the crew erroneously transmitted that they were at the correct intersection, the tower did not notice the error. The aircraft then became airborne with insufficient runway ahead, on which a rejected takeoff could not have been safely performed had it been required.

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