What happened
On 3 August 2001, an Alitalia Express Embraer 145 LR, registration I-EXME, was performing a scheduled flight from Milan Malpensa to Zurich Airport. During the approach to runway 14, the aircraft was flying significantly higher than the required profile. As the aircraft descended, the crew encountered heavy rain and unstable approach conditions.
At approximately 14:38 UTC, the ground proximity warning system (GPWS) issued a "TOO LOW, TERRAIN" alert. The copilot attempted to initiate a go-around by increasing engine power and adjusting the pitch; however, the commander intervened, instructing the crew to continue the descent and landing with a flap configuration of 22 degrees.
The aircraft touched down on the wet runway between 1450 and 1650 meters after the displaced threshold at a high speed of 167 KIAS. Due to the excessive speed and the long landing distance, the crew was unable to stop the aircraft within the remaining runway length. The aircraft eventually exited the paved surface and traveled approximately 150 meters into the grass before coming to a halt. There were no injuries among the 46 passengers and three crew members, though the aircraft sustained slight damage.
The investigation
The Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau examined the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, and various technical parameters. The investigation focused on the crew's decision-making during the unstable approach, the handling of the GPWS warnings, and the effectiveness of the braking maneuvers during the landing roll on the wet surface.