What happened
On 4 July 2013, an Airbus A320, registration G-OZBW, operated by Monarch Airlines, was performing a scheduled international passenger flight from Birmingham to Gibraltar. During the approach to runway 09 at Gibraltar, the crew reached the decision height but was unable to establish visual contact with the runway due to the presence of low clouds. Following the operator's safety procedures for the complex Gibraltar aerodrome, the crew executed a missed approach.
Although the flight plan had designated Tangiers as the primary alternate, the crew decided to divert to Málaga. This decision was influenced by the fact that Tangiers was not available in the aircraft's Flight Management and Guidance System (FMGS) database at the time. During the diversion, the crew encountered heavy traffic at Málaga and was unable to secure the direct approach they had anticipated. As the aircraft's fuel levels dropped, the crew received low fuel warnings and subsequently declared an emergency, declaring a fuel emergency to Air Traffic Control.
Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft eventually landed safely at Málaga. The crew managed the situation, and the aircraft was able to land without further incident. The investigation focused on the decision-making process regarding the diversion and the discrepancy between the planned alternate and the actual flight path.
Safety Recommendations
No specific safety recommendations were issued regarding the flight operations themselves, but the investigation highlighted the need for consistency in airline documentation regarding alternate airport selection.