History of the Flight
On 28 August 2024, at approximately 20:13 hrs local time, a runway incursion incident occurred at Singapore Changi Airport’s Runway 20R. An Airbus A320-200neo (registration B30AV), operating as China Eastern Airlines flight CES6017 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, had landed on Runway 20R at 20:12:04 hrs. The aircraft was instructed by the Runway Controller to vacate the runway via Rapid Exit Taxiway W6, but the flight crew judged that they could not slow sufficiently to use that exit and instead planned to vacate via W7. The controller then instructed them to vacate via W7 and turn left onto Taxiway W, which was acknowledged and read back correctly.
Meanwhile, a Boeing 777-300ER (registration B2021), operating as China Eastern Airlines flight CES565 also from Shanghai, was on approach for Runway 20R. At 20:12:55 hrs, the controller issued landing clearance for Aircraft B. However, as Aircraft A was still taxiing on the rapid exit taxiway W7, the controller reassessed the situation and at 20:13:25 hrs instructed Aircraft B to go around. At that moment, Aircraft B was at 76 feet above ground level and about 296 metres from the runway threshold.
Response to Go-Around Instruction
Aircraft B did not acknowledge the go-around instruction. The pilot flying continued the landing, commanding both engines to idle power at 20:13:31 hrs when the aircraft was 15 feet above ground level. Aircraft B touched down on Runway 20R at 20:13:38 hrs. The controller then determined that it was no longer necessary to enforce the go-around, as the tail of Aircraft A was clear of the runway edge line and posed no obstruction to Aircraft B’s landing roll. Both aircraft subsequently taxied to their assigned parking bays without further incident.
Air Traffic Control and Alerts
The Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (ASMGCS) displayed a yellow runway incursion visual alert at 20:12:54 hrs, which ceased five seconds later. At 20:13:22 hrs, a red runway incursion alarm with an aural alert was displayed. The controller had issued the go-around instruction after the red alarm appeared. The flight crew of Aircraft A had earlier been instructed twice to turn left onto Taxiway W, with the second instruction given at 20:13:19 hrs, immediately before the go-around call.
Aircraft and Operator Information
Aircraft A was an Airbus A320-200neo with three flight crew: a Pilot-in-Command operating as pilot monitoring, a First Officer as pilot flying, and a Second Officer as communicator. Aircraft B was a Boeing 777-300ER with four flight crew: a Pilot-in-Command as pilot flying, a Second Officer as pilot monitoring, a First Officer as communicator, and an additional Captain as observer. Both aircraft were operating scheduled passenger flights.