Aurigny ATR 72 Suffers Electrical Failure Near Guernsey

An Aurigny Air Services ATR 72-212A experienced a total electrical failure during descent into Guernsey on February 4, 2026, prompting a serious incident investigation by UK authorities.

The aircraft, registered G-OGFC, was operating a positioning flight from London Gatwick to Guernsey with two crew members on board and no passengers. According to the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the electrical failure occurred at the top of descent as the aircraft approached the Channel Islands.

Despite the loss of electrical power, the crew continued the approach and completed a safe landing on runway 09 at Guernsey Airport. No injuries were reported.

The AAIB classified the occurrence as a serious incident and has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the total electrical failure and assess any contributing factors. Such failures are considered significant events due to their potential impact on critical aircraft systems, including navigation, communications, and flight instrumentation.

However, data from ADS-B tracking indicates that the aircraft’s transponder continued transmitting position information until after landing. This suggests that at least some systems remained operational or were restored during the approach, though investigators will determine the exact sequence of events and system behavior.

Flight tracking data shows the aircraft had remained parked at London Gatwick from January 29 through February 4 before operating the positioning sector to Guernsey. Following the incident, the ATR 72 stayed on the ground in Guernsey while technical inspections and maintenance checks were conducted.

The aircraft remained out of service until February 12, when it performed a test flight before being cleared to return to commercial operations the same day.

The ATR 72-212A is a twin-engine turboprop widely used on regional routes. While electrical failures are rare, aircraft are designed with multiple redundancies to maintain safe flight and landing capability even in the event of major system malfunctions.

The AAIB’s final report will provide further details on the root cause and any recommended safety actions.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, avherald.com