Narrative
On 20 September 2025, an Airbus A320-214, registration CN-NML, operated by Air Arabia Maroc as flight MAC991, departed from Catania Fontanarossa International Airport (LICC) for a positioning flight to Amman (OJAI, Jordan). The aircraft took off from runway 08 at 21:56 UTC. Shortly after lift-off, the aircraft began to descend, and GPWS alerts sounded. The trajectory was recovered when the aircraft came close to the sea surface. The minimum recorded radio altitude was 41 ft (12.5 m). The flight continued to the destination, where an uneventful landing was performed.
The operator reported the event to the Italian Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority (ANSV) following Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) analysis, after an Air Safety Report (ASR) from the captain of the flight. The ANSV classified the event as a serious incident and launched a safety investigation. Notification was sent to the states of the aircraft manufacturer (France, BEA), the engine manufacturer (United States and France, NTSB and BEA respectively), and the state of the operator (Morocco, BEA Morocco). All appointed accredited representatives. EASA also appointed a technical adviser.
Aircraft Information
The Airbus A320-214 (serial number 4848, registration CN-NML) held a certificate of airworthiness dated 8 June 2017 and an airworthiness review certificate dated 7 April 2025. The load sheet for the flight reported a zero fuel weight of 42,541 kg, takeoff fuel of 11,400 kg, and a takeoff weight of 53,941 kg.
A post-flight computation using the Flysmart Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) software produced the following takeoff speeds: V1: 131 kt, VR: 131 kt, V2: 133 kt, and a flex temperature of 68°C. According to preliminary information, these speeds were not entered into the Multi-Function Control and Display Unit (MCDU).
The aircraft was equipped with FMS2 Thales release 1A software operational program. A later modification (release 2) would have triggered a caution message “TO speeds not inserted” at the first engine start, but this modification was not fitted to CN-NML at the time.
Flight Crew Information
The crew consisted of a captain and a first officer. The captain, aged 47 and Tunisian, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) with A320 rating and a Class 1 Medical Certificate. Total flight experience was 14,396 hours. Rest time before the event day was 27 hours 25 minutes.
The first officer, aged 36 and Moroccan, held a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with A320 rating and a Class 1 Medical Certificate. Total flight experience was 3,696 hours. Rest time before the event day was 18 hours 02 minutes.
Weather and Airport Information
At the time of the incident, the METAR at Catania reported wind 30005KT, CAVOK, temperature 23°C, dewpoint 20°C, QNH 1021 hPa. Sea conditions for the Southern Ionio Sea were Level 4 (moderate) on the Douglas Sea Scale. The moon was below the horizon and in a new moon phase (0.8% visibility).
Runway 08 was in use. ATIS reported a tailwind of 4 knots to zero. Air traffic control reminded the crew twice to expedite operations due to the imminent closure of the airport. The airport tower was not equipped with Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW).
Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder Analysis
The FDR and CVR were successfully downloaded at ANSV laboratories on 4 and 5 November 2025. The FDR data indicated the following sequence:
- At 21:53:56, the aircraft began taxiing.
- At 21:56:24, the aircraft lined up on runway 08. The pilot-in-command (PIC) was the pilot flying (PF). Both flight directors were engaged with no associated mode on the Flight Mode Annunciator (FMA). Slats/flaps were in CONF 1+F. Center of gravity was 24.8%. Stabilizer position was -0.8° (nose-up).
- At 21:56:28, thrust levers were moved to FLEX, then after 4 seconds (at CAS about 50 kt) to TOGA. Flight directors changed to RWY mode; SRS mode did not engage. Autothrust was not armed.
- From 21:56:43 to 21:56:46, CAS was between 127 and 144 kt. No sidestick input was applied; the nose landing gear was recorded uncompressed twice.
- At 21:56:46, rotation began at CAS 144 kt.
- At 21:56:49, the aircraft lifted off at CAS 157 kt with pitch +7°.
- At 21:56:52, CAS was 167 kt, radio altitude 37 ft, gear selected UP, vertical speed +1520 fpm.
- At 21:56:53, lateral FD mode changed from RWY to NAV (TRAK sub-mode NAV). RA 62 ft, CAS 168 kt, pitch +10.5°.
- At 21:56:54 (5 seconds after lift-off), the FD vertical mode was in V/S with target +1900 fpm; current V/S was +1968 fpm. Autopilot was not engaged.
- At 21:56:55, pitch reached a maximum of +11°, then the captain’s sidestick input increased to about 9° pitch down. RA 123 ft.
- At 21:57:01, at 309 ft RA, CAS 188 kt, V/S +1408 fpm, pitch 7°, pitch down was commanded from the captain’s sidestick.
- At 21:57:04, at 370 ft RA, CAS 200 kt, V/S +112 fpm, pitch +2.1°, flaps config 0 selected, while pitch down command 7.2° was still observed.
- At 21:57:06, at 383 ft RA, CAS 211 kt, V/S -1200 fpm, pitch 0° (aircraft started descending).
- At 21:57:08, at 348 ft RA, autopilot 1 engaged for 3 seconds in NAV/V/S; vertical speed target changed to V/S -1900, CAS 222 kt, V/S -2064 fpm, aircraft pitch -1.75°.
The investigation is ongoing.