Incident Overview
On 9 April 2011 at approximately 13:10 UTC, an Air Nostrum Bombardier CL600-2B19 CRJ200, registration EC-IJS, landed on runway 01L at Menorca Airport (LEMH) during a scheduled domestic flight from Madrid. The aircraft carried 39 passengers and a crew of three. Runway 01L/19R had been closed since 10 February 2011 due to construction, and runway 01R/19L was in use. At the time of the landing, two workers were installing runway edge lights and a vehicle was present alongside the closed runway. No injuries occurred among passengers or crew, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
Flight Crew
The captain, aged 46, held an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL(A)) and a CRJ-100 rating, with a total of 11,391 flight hours (8,267 on type). The copilot, aged 41, also held an ATPL(A) and CRJ-100 rating, with 5,642 flight hours (5,294 on type). Both were Spanish nationals and had valid class 1 medical certificates.
Air Traffic Control Communications
At 12:53:35 UTC, the crew contacted Menorca Tower and requested to land on runway 01 instead of the active runway 19L, to shorten the approach. The controller cleared them for a visual approach to runway 01 and advised they were first to land. The crew acknowledged clearance to land on runway 01R. At 13:03:29 UTC, after landing, the crew informed the controller that they had incorrectly entered runway 01L into the Flight Management System (FMS). The controller stated that from his position, it was difficult to distinguish between approaches to runways 01R and 01L.
Runway Closure Information
The airport published NOTAMs indicating that runway 01L/19R was closed from 8 to 14 April 2011 and that runway 01R/19L was operational. The AIP Supplement SUP 23/10 documented the closure. The runway was marked with ten X-shaped symbols: two painted on the displaced thresholds and eight made of cloth on the runway surface. The crew noted that no distinct closed-runway markings were visible from the approach, unlike other airports where barriers or X markings are placed near the threshold.
Aftermath
After landing, the tower instructed the aircraft to exit to the right, but the exit was blocked by red and white barriers. The crew then taxied to the apron after a signalman removed the barriers. The crew contacted the controller and questioned whether he had noticed they landed on the closed runway. The controller replied that he initially could not ascertain the runway and chose not to instruct a go-around as the aircraft neared landing.