The Italian air safety authority is currently investigating a “serious incident” involving an Air Arabia aircraft that dangerously descended near the Mediterranean Sea shortly after departing from Catania Airport in Sicily.
The incident, which took place a month ago, involved an Air Arabia flight en route to Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan. After taking off from Catania, the plane’s Ground Proximity Warning System alerted the pilots as the aircraft neared the sea surface, reported the Agenzia Nazionale Per La Sicurezza Del Volo (ANSV).
On September 20, 2025, at 21:57 UTC, the Air Arabia Airbus A320, registration CN-NML, headed for Queen Alia International Airport, received a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) pull-up alert. The aircraft was flying perilously close to the sea but managed to regain altitude and continued the flight without further issues, according to a statement from ANSV.
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A spokesperson for Air Arabia Maroc confirmed to Khaleej Times their awareness of the ongoing Italian investigation.
“We acknowledge the reports regarding an Air Arabia Maroc ferry flight from Catania to Amman on September 20, 2025, which triggered the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). Air Arabia Maroc prioritizes safety and transparency and is fully cooperating with the Italian National Agency for Flight Safety (ANSV) during the investigation,” said the airline’s spokesperson.
No passengers were on the flight, but there were two pilots and four cabin crew members.
Following an initial review of details from the operator, ANSV has classified the event as a serious incident and launched a safety investigation.
On September 20, Air Arabia, the premier low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo from an order of 120 A320 Family aircraft placed in 2019.
Air Arabia’s operations span six main hubs, including Sharjah International Airport, Mohamed V International Airport in Casablanca, and others.
The involved aircraft, CN-NML, is operated by Air Arabia Maroc, a joint venture under Air Arabia Group, based at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca. This low-cost Moroccan carrier, launched on April 29, 2009, serves numerous European destinations.
Earlier this year, on June 12, 2025, an Air India flight with 244 people onboard crashed near Ahmedabad airport shortly after takeoff while en route to London Gatwick.
