Incident
On August 30, 2010, at about 21:55 Japan Standard Time, a Boeing 777-300 operated by Qatar Airways as flight 803 attempted to land on runway 24R at Kansai International Airport. Runway 24R was closed at the time. The aircraft, registration A7BAE, was approaching from Narita International Airport. It made a go-around and subsequently landed on runway 24L at 22:07. There were 124 persons on board, including the captain, 16 crewmembers, and 107 passengers; no injuries were reported.
Flight History
The flight departed Narita at 20:59. The crew initially planned an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 24L but later accepted a visual approach. The Approach control vectored the aircraft to a downwind leg. At 21:50, the crew reported the runway in sight and were cleared for a visual approach, instructed to contact the tower. At 21:54:42, the tower cleared the aircraft to land on 24L. However, the aircraft was aligned with runway 24R. At 21:55:11, the tower noted the aircraft was approaching 24R and asked if a left turn to 24L was possible. The crew responded that they would go around because they could not approach 24L.
Crew Statements
The captain stated that he learned from the Automatic Terminal Information Service that runway 24L was active and 24R was closed. During the approach, the first officer (pilot flying) and the captain saw the precision approach path indicator and believed they were approaching the correct runway. They realized from the ILS indication on the navigation display that they were approaching the wrong runway before the tower's query.
Lighting System Operations
At 21:52:37, the precision approach lighting system, sequenced flashing lights, and precision approach path indicator for runway 24R were turned on. The sequenced flashing lights were turned off at 21:53:11. The approach lighting and PAPI for 24R were turned off at 21:56:14 after the go-around.
Aftermath
The aircraft made a successful visual approach and landing on runway 24L following instructions from the tower. The Japan Transport Safety Board investigated the serious incident, classified as an attempted landing on a closed runway.