A TAP flight from Lisbon was forced to abort its landing in Madeira on Sunday afternoon, thus avoiding a collision with a plane on the runway.
The Aircraft Accident Prevention and Investigation Bureau is investigating how and why the incoming aircraft’s pilot was not alerted by the control tower at Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport.
Flight TP-1687 was due to land in Madeira at 18.25 and has started its descent to land eastbound at the airport. The pilot spotted an aircraft on the runway below and aborted the landing - an unwelcome surprise for his passengers.
The TAP pilot of the in-flight aircraft had received no reports that there was another aircraft on the runway which, luckily, he spotted in time to take evasive action.