20 Jul 2006

Goats invade Tongan runway

3:20 pm on 20 July 2006

The pilot of an Airlines Tonga flight into Salote Pilolevu airport in Ha'apai was forced to abort a landing when stray goats found their way on to the tarmac.

The pilot made a second circuit of the airport before landing safely.

One of the passengers, Magistrate Lokotui, says airport employees have told him that the fence around the airport is full of holes and cattle sometimes wander onto the tarmac.

He says if there are holes in the fence, they should be mended straightaway

He says lives could have been lost and urged the appropriate authorities to take action.