Created Saturday, Jul 1st 2023 06:28Z, last updated Friday, Jul 14th 2023 06:34Z
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DLX performing flight
FR-4585 from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Porto (Portugal), had been cleared to land on runway 35 and was on short final to Porto's runway 35 descending through about 250 feet AGL about 1nm short of the runway threshold at 16:46L (15:46Z) when the crew noticed another aircraft was in position on the runway. The crew initiated a go around and informed tower. The Ryanair positioned for another approach to runway 35 and landed safely about 17 minutes later.
An Azores Airlines (former SATA) Airbus A321-200N registration CS-TSI performing flight S4-6473 from Porto to Madeira (Portugal), had been cleared to line up runway 35 earlier and were still waiting for their takeoff clearance. The aircraft became airborne about 4 minutes after the Ryanair initiated their go-around.
Portugal's ATC organisation (NAV) confirmed they immediately got knowledge of the occurrence and have opened an internal investigation. Portugal's Accident Investigation GPIAAF have also been informed, rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation, too.
In July 2023 Portugal's GPIAA rated the occurrence an incident, announced they have opened an investigation, stated that at the time of the occurrence the tower controller also handled ground control communications, which usually is handled a dedicated ground controller, and summarized their notification of the occurrence as follows:
On June 26, 2023 at 15:43:09, an Airbus A321neo (A21N) aircraft with registration CS-TSI was authorized by the air traffic control service (CTA) to line up on runway 35 of Porto Airport behind landing traffic on short final and await take-off clearance.
After the traffic landed at 15:45:06, the A21N entered and lined up on runway 35, awaiting take-off instructions from the CTA.
Meanwhile, a Boeing 737-800 (B738) registered EI-DLX was on final approach to the same runway.
At 15:46:53, less than 30 seconds from landing, the pilot of the B738 called the CTA who immediately gave him wind information and landing clearance on runway 35.
The pilot of the B738, noticing that the runway was occupied by the Airbus, warned the controller of this fact "just confirm there is an airplane on the runway". The CTA then instructed the Boeing to go-around about 13 seconds before flying over the threshold of runway 35, canceling the landing clearance.
Preliminary data shows that the Boeing descended to 275 feet AGL at a distance of 950 meters from the beginning of runway 35, where the A21N was located.
The same data shows that 10 take-offs were planned for the period (15:47, time of the event until 16:00), six already in contact with the tower and another 2 in flight.
After take-off of the A21N to its destination in Porto Santo and already with the traffic situation normalized, the B738 began a new approach and landed uneventfully.
Related Flight:
FR4585,
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