2 Nov 2016

Inefficiency behind Cooks runway incident

1:24 pm on 2 November 2016

The Airport Authority Cook Islands says there are no safety concerns over a runway incident at the weekend.

On Saturday morning local time, an Air New Zealand Boeing 767 which was cleared for approach was unable to land because a Jetstar aircraft was still on the runway for takeoff.

The Air New Zealand aircraft circled around till the runway was clear.

Rarotonga airport

Rarotonga airport Photo: RNZI / Mary Baines

Airport Authority CEO Joseph Ngamata said an investigation has revealed the cause was inefficient air traffic controlling.

"The controller had based his decisions on what the aircraft had originally given as its estimated time of arrival here, he certainly should have kept himself updated with the other aircraft coming in and just call for positions and know how good that original estimated time of arrival was," Mr Ngamata said.

He said there were minimal delays to the flights and the controller will be put through training.