Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Flightaware.com
Topics: France
Dominic Smithers
Incredible audio footage has ben released that shows the moment a pilot managed to avert a potential disaster while landing.
A Boeing 777 was on its way from New York to Paris on Tuesday (5 April) when it came into some trouble as it tried to land at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport.
As it was headed for Runway 26L, the pilot was forced to abort the landing and divert his plane away from the airport after the plane failed to respond.
The tense exchange between the pilot and the air traffic controller (ATC) has been released after it was announced that a safety investigation into the flight had now been launched.
The audio shows the Boeing 777 coming into land, with the controller informing the pilot, in French, that he has the all-clear at 1,500ft.
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However, just seconds later, an alarm starts to ring in the cockpit, with the pilot heard battling with his controls.
The ATC then attempts to get hold of the pilot, who replies: "I'll call you back."
But with little time to spare, he orders the pilot not to land.
"Stop the approach immediately at 1,500 feet," the ATC can be heard saying.
Fortunately, the pilot returns and explains that he was able to abort the landing at just 1,200ft.
The alarms now having stopped, he says: "We went around, holding at 4,000 feet. We went around following an issue with commands. The plane didn't respond.
"We’re ready to resume the approach with radar guidance. Please give us time to manage the situation, then guide us with tailwind."
The ATC then tells the pilot that he noticed they had changed course and approves his request to alter the approach, instead landing at Runway 27R.
The flight was eventually able to land safely at 10.30am on Tuesday morning.
In a statement about the incident, Air France said the crew experienced some 'technical' issues while attempting to land and praised their skill.
A spokesperson for the airline said: "Air France confirms that the crew of flight AF011 from New York JFK to Paris-CDG aborted their landing sequence and performed a go-around due to a technical incident during the approach
"The crew mastered the situation and landed the aircraft normally after a second approach.
"Air France understands and regrets the discomfort felt by customers,” the airline said.
"The go-around is defined by the authorities, aircraft manufacturers and Air France as a normal procedure.
"The crews are trained and regularly instructed in these procedures, which are used by all airlines to guarantee the safety of flights and passengers, which is an absolute necessity for Air France."
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