EasyJet A320 Suffers Severe Internal Engine Failure During Approach In Italy
An easyJet Airbus A320-200 operating from Milan Malpensa (MXP) to Lamezia Terme (SUF) suffered a serious right-engine failure while descending into southern Italy, with reports indicating visible flames from the No. 2 engine during the approach.
The crew followed emergency procedures, shut down the affected engine, entered a brief holding pattern while descending, and then landed safely at Lamezia.
Engine Failure During Descent Into Lamezia
The incident occurred on Saturday, December 27, on easyJet flight U2-3557. The aircraft departed Milan at 8:13 a.m., climbing normally to cruise at 37,000 feet before beginning its descent toward Calabria.
During the approach phase, the right-hand engine reportedly failed and was seen emitting flames, prompting the crew to secure the engine and stabilize the situation before continuing to landing.
Holding Pattern Before Safe Landing
After the shutdown, the aircraft entered a hold while descending from roughly 6,000 to 3,000 feet, managing workload and spacing before committing to the final approach.
The A320 touched down at 9:52 a.m. in Lamezia—about 23 minutes after the failure—and arrived only marginally behind schedule. No injuries were reported.
Aircraft Details and Return To Service
The aircraft involved was OE-IVZ, an A320-214 configured for 186 passengers in an all-economy layout. It first flew in February 2015 and later transferred into easyJet Europe service in 2018.
Following the incident, the aircraft remained on the ground in Lamezia over the New Year period and was later ferried back to Milan without passengers on Saturday, January 3, before returning to scheduled operations after inspection and maintenance.
Passenger Disruption And Rebooking
Passengers booked on the return leg (U2-3558) from Lamezia to Milan that day were re-accommodated onto another aircraft, resulting in a significant delay. The replacement service departed at 3:32 p.m. instead of the originally planned 10:40 a.m., arriving back in Milan later that afternoon.
What Happens Next
While early reports describe the failure as a severe internal event, the key unanswered question is whether it was fully contained. These cases typically trigger a detailed engineering inspection, parts analysis, and reporting to the relevant aviation authorities and engine manufacturer as needed.
