EasyJet flight was just seconds away from crashing in Alps after dropping to altitude 'three times lower than normal'

According to local reports, the plane dropped to a low altitude and was just 30 seconds away from crashing into Lake Geneva.

The jet dropped to just 750ft above the lake, around 7.5 miles away from the runway as air traffic controllers were forced to step in.

The Swiss Safety Investigation Service (SESE) told the local paper: "During the approach to runway 22, the aircraft descended significantly below the glideslope and the flight crew initiated a go-around."

According to newspaper Blick, experts have claimed that the incident may have occurred by pilots following a "shortcut route."

Pilots were told to "check your altitude immediately", which was three times lower than it should have been.

Local newspaper 24 Heures reports that pilots were then forced to accelerate rapidly and looped over French commune Thonon-les-Bains, avoiding the disaster on November 5 last year.

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A spokesperson for easyJet told The Sun: "We are fully supporting the investigation in line with procedures.

"At no point was the safety of those onboard compromised. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority."

The so -called "shortcut route" would have taken them between Gland and Rolle.

Due to the geography of the region, the route would have caused them to drop altitude due to the Jura mountains.

STV reports that easyJet have now confirmed that the pilots were "stood down" from duty following the incident but have since returned to work.

One Airbus A320 pilot told the Tribune de Genève: "I don't know what happened in the cockpit that day, but that’s where they will find the explanation."