Close Call: 767 Almost Lands on Unfinished Runway in China

A Boeing 767 from Georgian Airlines, flight 1180, nearly landed on an unfinished runway at Shiyan International Airport in China on May 28th. The incident occurred during the approach to runway 23L. However, the crew mistakenly lined up for runway 24L, still under construction. Air Traffic Control (ATC) intervened, instructing the crew to go around, preventing a potential accident. The plane successfully landed on the correct runway shortly after. "They would have landed on that runway," explains Aaron Rheins in his video analysis, "but thankfully ATC instructed them to go around." This near-miss underscores the critical role of ATC in ensuring aviation safety. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with construction near active runways and the need for precise navigation and communication between pilots and air traffic controllers. The successful intervention by ATC prevented a potentially serious accident.