Air Arabia A320 descends dangerously low after takeoff from Italy, investigation underway

The GPWS, which was activated during the incident, is designed to alert pilots when an aircraft is dangerously close to the ground or other surfaces. The system provides both audible and visual warnings, such as the command "Pull Up," to prompt corrective action from the flight crew. It uses data from multiple onboard systems, including the Air Data Computer, Radio Altimeter, and navigation systems, to monitor the aircraft's environment and flight profile.

The GPWS includes several modes that detect issues such as excessive descent rate, terrain closure, altitude loss during takeoff or go-around, and improper aircraft configuration near terrain. An enhanced version of the system, known as EGPWS, can also detect wind shear. These systems are especially valuable during night operations or periods of low visibility, when pilots may not have visual cues from outside the cockpit.

The investigation by the ANSV aims to identify the factors that led to the near-miss and to prevent similar incidents in the future.