What happened
On August 3, 2016, an Airbus A320, registration G-EZTY, operated by EasyJet, was performing a commercial flight from Basel-Mulhouse Airport to Lisbon. During the initial climb through flight level 250, the flight crew experienced vibrations and a noticeable odor within the cockpit that lasted for approximately one minute.
As the aircraft continued its ascent to a cruising altitude of flight level 350, the situation recurred. The crew reported a second instance of vibrations accompanied by an unusual noise and a distinct electrical smell in the cockpit. Due to these developing symptoms, the crew elected to terminate the flight to Lisbon and diverted to Toulouse for an emergency landing.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the origin of the electrical odor and the mechanical vibrations experienced by the crew during both the climb and the cruise phases of the flight.