A FlySafair Boeing 737-800, registration ZS-SJU performing flight FA-31 from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town (South Africa) with 185 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL360 about 200nm east of Cape Town when the crew received a cabin altitude warning and "AUTO FAIL" message, donned their oxygen masks and initiated an emergency descent to FL100, the captain took control of the aircraft. During the descent the first officer attempted to control the cabin pressure manually, which was successful. The crew levelled off at FL100, removed the oxygen masks, the captain handed control back to the first officer and the aircraft continued to Cape Town. On final approach to runway 19 the aircraft was too high, a go around was initiated, the aircraft positioned for another approach and landed without further incident.
On Mar 18th 2026 South Africa's CAA released their final report concluding the probable cause of the serious incident was:
Cabin decompression en route to FACT at FL360 caused by a latent internal failure of cabin pressure controller 1 prevented automatic pressurisation control and inhibited a successful transfer to the alternate controller, thus, resulting in the aircrafts loss of automatic cabin pressure regulation during cruise.
On Mar 18th 2026 South Africa's CAA released their final report concluding the probable cause of the serious incident was:
Cabin decompression en route to FACT at FL360 caused by a latent internal failure of cabin pressure controller 1 prevented automatic pressurisation control and inhibited a successful transfer to the alternate controller, thus, resulting in the aircrafts loss of automatic cabin pressure regulation during cruise.
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