Report reveals easyJet flight was allowed to take off from wrong runway point / Photo – File
An air safety investigation has been launched after an EasyJet flight from Manchester Airport took off from the wrong runway position, an error that investigators say significantly reduced the length of runway available to the aircraft during departure.The incident involved an EasyJet Airbus A320 flight from Manchester to the Greek island of Kos on 6 July 2025. Although the aircraft became safely airborne and continued its journey without further problems, investigators described the event as a serious safety event that could have had more serious consequences under different circumstances.The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) published the findings, examining how the crew mistakenly initiated a take-off from an incorrect intersection of the runway.
Manchester Airport take-off incident
According to the AAIB, the aircraft was cleared to depart from Manchester Airport’s runway 23R using junction J1. This would provide the crew with a runway of more than 2,500 meters for take-off.However, investigators found that the plane instead entered the runway at intersection J2, which was along the runway and left a much shorter distance for departure.The crew proceeded to take off, believing they were positioned correctly.
The error was not identified until the plane was in the air and continued its journey to Greece.While the plane departed successfully and landed safely at its destination, investigators concluded that the takeoff used much less runway than intended.
Investigation into AIB
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch found that a combination of factors contributed to the error.Investigators said the crew discussed the departure route before arriving at the runway, but confusion arose over its exact location while driving at night.The report indicated that both pilots believed they were approaching the correct entry point to the runway even though they entered from a different location.The AAIB also highlighted how complex airport layouts, low visibility signals during the dark and in-cockpit assumptions contribute to navigation errors on the ground.Although the plane’s systems did not recognize the fault before takeoff, investigators found that the plane still had enough runway to depart safely under the conditions that day.
Safety concerns
While no passengers were injured and the flight continued normally, aviation investigators confirmed that the event had the potential to become more serious.Taking off from a point farther down the runway reduces the distance available for acceleration and can leave the crew with fewer options if a problem arises during departure.Investigators noted that if the plane was heavier, weather conditions were less favorable, or an engine problem occurred, a reduced runway length could pose a greater risk.The report classified the event as a serious runway-related event and used it as an example of how small navigation errors can create large safety impacts.
EasyJet responded
After the investigation, safety recommendations focused on reducing the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in the future.The AAIB shared the findings with operators and aviation authorities to improve awareness of runway entry errors and enhance cockpit procedures used to verify an aircraft’s position prior to takeoff.EasyJet said safety remained its top priority and confirmed that the airline had fully cooperated with the investigation.The carrier indicated that the flight landed safely and incorporated lessons learned from the incident into operational reviews and crew procedures.
