What happened
On 27 February 2005, an Aeroflar Tupolev 154M, registration RA-85644, was conducting a flight from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Barcelona. During the arrival phase, the crew initiated a non-precision VOR/DME approach to runway 25R. After being cleared to land, the crew observed another aircraft on the runway and subsequently executed a go-around.
Following the missed approach, the aircraft performed a second approach. During the landing roll, the local control tower informed the crew that they had landed on taxiway 'T' rather than the intended runway 25R. Taxiway 'T' is situated parallel to the right of runway 25R. There were no injuries to the 86 passengers or the 9 crew members, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight crew's actions, the airport's operational status, and communication between the aircraft and Air Traffic Control (ATC). The investigation noted that the ILS for runway 25R was out of service and that construction works in the area had resulted in reduced approach and touchdown zone lighting.
Investigators also reviewed the crew's communication with ATC, noting a misunderstanding during the go-around phase where the crew assumed an instruction intended for another aircraft was directed at them. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the cockpit environment, noting a lack of mutual cross-check and a hierarchical structure that did not align with modern Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles.