Fatigued Aer Lingus pilot linked to unstable approach at Dublin Airport

An investigation has found that an Aer Lingus pilot who admitted he “may have been tired” lost situational awareness during an unstable approach into Dublin Airport, resulting in an excessive bank angle and a go-around.

The incident occurred on 14 January during a flight from Faro to Dublin carrying 146 passengers. According to the Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU), the commander disconnected the aircraft’s autopilot in an attempt to speed up the approach by fully deploying the speed brakes after the aircraft became too high and too fast on final approach.

During the subsequent go-around, the aircraft rolled to a 44-degree bank angle, exceeding the normal operational limit of 33 degrees. The event was classified as an “aircraft upset”, meaning the aircraft unintentionally departed from its intended flight parameters.

The AAIU concluded that disconnecting the autopilot and manually flying the aircraft led to degraded situational awareness. The commander also told investigators that he had not slept well the night before the flight and acknowledged that he may have been fatigued.

The investigation highlights the role that pilot fatigue and unstable approach management can play in reducing flight crew performance during critical phases of flight.