The plane carrying Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Australia had to abort its landing in Sydney because another aircraft was on the runway below The plane carrying Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Australia had to abort its landing in Sydney because another aircraft was on the runway below. The airplane came within seconds of landing but the pilot had to pull away again and re-approach when the coast was clear. Get push notifications with news, features and more. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on a 16-day tour through Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and were on the specially-chartered Qantas flight late Friday, local time, with their traveling cohort of staff and journalists. BBC journalist Simon Atkinson posted a dramatic video of the first attempted landing. royals-tonga-2-32 Credit: Phil Noble - Pool/Getty An announcement from the flight deck said: “There was an aircraft on the runway a little slow to roll … so the decision was taken to abort the landing,” the BBC reported. The royal couple left Tonga earlier that day, after a colorful and joyful visit. AFP_1A92UD Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Fiji | Credit: PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty<doc-sep>Get our daily royal round-up direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were involved a mid-air scare as their plane was forced to pull up "seconds" before landing because another aircraft was on the runway. The couple's Qantas charter plane had descended to just 125ft on approach to Sydney's airport as the drama unfolded with dozens of passengers, including royal staff and Mirror journalists, on board. Flight captain Nigel Rosser announced that the two aircraft were "too close" and it wasn't safe for the Qantas plane to land. He joked to travellers: "You’ll get another great view of the harbour." After the missed approach, the jet circled and landed safely on its second attempt, with passengers clapping and Harry nodding in approval of the pilots' skills, a witness says. (Image: Media-Mode / SplashNews.com) Harry, 34, and pregnant Meghan, 37, were pictured smiling as they walked off the plane and left in a car after flying to Sydney from Tonga. The royal couple were in business class on charter flight QF6031 and the their royal team and travelling press corps on board too when it was decided to scrap the landing on safety grounds. According to Flightradar24, the jet had descended to an altitude of 125ft when it climbed and performed a go-around. Captain Rosser described the incident as a “missed approach” over the tannoy because there was another jet on the runway which was too slow to move. (Image: Media-Mode/SplashNews.com) The aircraft on the ground, he said, was too slow to roll meaning the decision to abort the landing was taken. Captain Rosser announced: “Unfortunately there was on aircraft that was a little bit close too slow to roll. “The decision was decided to abort the landing." The incident near the end of the five-hour flight meant the royal couple arrival time into Sydney was delayed. (Image: Media-Mode/SplashNews.com) Co-pilot Ann Cole landed the plane safely. Mirror photographer Ian Vogler, who was on the plane said: "We were coming down to land, having come in via Sydney Harbour, just seconds off actually hitting the runway, when the pilot had to pull the plane back up and we were rising again. "There were a few nervous flyers on board so it must have been concerning for them but it was all handled very well by the pilots on board. "The plane circled the harbour again and we made a second successful landing, lots of people were clapping and Prince Harry was seen nodding in approval at the success and skill of the pilots." (Image: Media-Mode/SplashNews.com) Journalists on board live tweeted the ordeal and hailed the crew afterwards. ABC News reporter James Longman tweeted: "Missed approach for the Royal Charter back into Sydney. Another plane on the runway getting in the way. So we’re coming around again." Hello! royal editor Emily Nash added: "The pilot on Harry and Meghan’s (and our) plane just had to abort the landing in Sydney seconds from wheels down because of another plane on the runway. "Superb safe second attempt by @qantas Captain Nigel Rosser." (Image: X01988) (Image: Getty Images) She added later: "I’m told it was actually the female co pilot Ann Cole who landed us safely - thanks @Qantas!" A Qantas spokesperson said: "The captain advised those on board they'd be doing a go-around as there was another aircraft on the runway that took longer than expected to take-off. "Passengers were given another view of Sydney Harbour before landing safely around 6pm." Harry and Meghan, who is pregnant with their first child, were returning to Sydney for the Invictus Games after visiting the archipelago nation of Tonga during their royal tour of Australia and the South Pacific. Earlier Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex donned traditional Tongan dress as they bid farewell to the Pacific islands. (Image: PA) (Image: PA) Meghan wore garlands of red flowers and a handmade wrap skirt called ta'ovala, given as a traditional sign of respect. The red and white skirts, which the couple wore over their normal clothes, spelled "TONGA" in flowers at the waist and won over excited crowds in the former British colony. The royal couple met Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pōhiva at a government building, funded by China but named the St George Building, in the capital, Nuku'alofa. On the way in, Harry stopped to embrace a small boy holding a sign which said "Free hugs!" (Image: PA) Meghan and Harry's itinerary Tuesday 16th October: Sydney, Australia Wednesday 17th October: Dubbo, Australia Thursday 18th October: Melbourne, Australia Friday 19th October: Sydney, Australia Saturday 20th October: Sydney, Australia Sunday 21st October: Sydney, Australia Monday 22nd October: Fraser Island, Australia Tuesday 23rd October: Suva, Fiji Wednesday 24th October: Suva, Fiji Thursday 25th October: Nadi, Fiji and Nuku’alofa, Tonga Friday 26th October: Nuku’alofa, Tonga and Sydney, Australia Saturday 27th October: Sydney, Australia Sunday 28th October: Wellington, New Zealand Monday 29th October: Wellington and Abel Tasman, New Zealand Tuesday 30th October: Auckland, New Zealand Wednesday 31st October: Rotorua, New Zealand The pair were serenaded by students at Tupou College, and called in at the Royal Palace, feted everywhere by excited crowds waving flags and signs celebrating the visit. They laughed when boys from the college sang about mosquitoes, complete with dance moves, at a ceremony to dedicate two forest reserves on the campus, where they also inspected a caged black parrot. Meghan chose not to walk through the rainforest due to the threat of the Zika virus. Schoolchildren later lined the route to the airport where the couple walked over a carpet of woven mats to their plane which left for Australia in the afternoon. Earlier on their tour, the couple visited Fiji, where enormous crowds showed up to welcome them, and Australia where the public thronged the Sydney Opera House to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth's grandson and his wife. On Friday night, they were attending the Australian Geographic Society Gala Awards. On Saturday, they will attend the final day of the Invictus Games. After another visit to Australia, the couple will head to New Zealand, where their 16-day tour will conclude on October 31.<doc-sep>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a close call on their return flight to Sydney when the pilot of their charter flight aborted the landing metres from the tarmac. The plane was over the runway and seconds from landing when it pulled up suddenly. Speaking over the tannoy, the pilot Nigel Rosser called the incident a "Missed approach". He said: “There was another aircraft on the runway that was a little bit slow to roll and unfortunately hadn’t cleared the runway. We were too close, so the decision was made to abort the landing." Meghan and Harry had a flight scare after leaving Tonga The Qantas Boeing 737 plane was carrying more than 100 people, including Kensington Palace staff and members of the international media. Harry and Meghan were making their way back to Sydney after spending four days in Tonga and Fiji, before returning to Australia. No doubt the incident was a frightening one for the parents-to-be, though it's confirmed that all is well and the plane landed safely in Sydney. Loading the player... Earlier that day, the royal couple enjoyed a series of engagements during their final day in Tonga. Upon arrival, Harry and Meghan were met by more than 50 civil servants wearing red and black shirts and traditional outfits, as they entered the St George Government Building. Boarding the plane After half an hour the parents-to-be headed to the Fa'onelua Centre, where they met with Princess Angelika to visit an exhibition celebrating Tongan handicrafts and products. The Duke and Duchess also unveiled the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy before bidding their farewells and boarding the plane. It won't be long before the couple appear in public again, despite their ordeal, since they are due to attend the Australian Geographic Society Awards on arrival in Sydney on Friday.<doc-sep>
The plane carrying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was forced to abort its landing at Sydney airport, just seconds from touchdown, on Friday afternoon. Captain Nigel Rosser explained there was another plane on the runway “that was a little bit slow to roll,” and the Qantas charter flight pulled up, in what he called a “missed approach.” The aircraft landed safely after circling the city for a second time. Meghan and Harry are now back in Sydney. Photo: Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to Sydney, after spending four days between the Pacific islands of Fiji and Tonga. The moment our quick-thinking @Qantas co-pilot Ann Cole (and Captain Nigel Rosser) aborted landing at @SydneyAirport due to an unexpected plane on the runway. The Sussexes (and us!) were in great hands. Fantastic flying✈ pic.twitter.com/cb8G6ja1L7 — Omid Scobie (@scobie) October 26, 2018 Rosser said: “There was an aircraft on the runway that was a little bit slow to roll, unfortunately hadn’t cleared the runway. “We were too close, so the decision was made to abort the landing. It was what we call a missed approach.” The plane was also carrying Kensington Palace staff and members of the international media. Those on board praised quick-thinking Captain Nigel Rosser and co-pilot Ann Cole. Harry and Meghan at the Tongan Handicrafts exhibition. Photo: Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan had a morning of engagements in Tonga, before departing for Sydney. The couple met with the Prime Minister of Tonga, Akilisi Pohiva, at St George Government Building before attending an exhibition of Tongan Handicrafts at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre, with Princess Angelika. Meghan, who was wearing a striped Martin Grant frock, later changed into a blue Veronica Beard dress to unveil the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy at Tupou College. Story continues The couple have spent the last four days in Fiji and Tonga. Photo: Getty Images There was time for a farewell with King Tupou VI at the Royal Palace, before the Duke and Duchess boarded the flight for Sydney. The couple will spend the weekend watching events at the Invictus Games and the Closing Ceremony, before travelling to New Zealand for the final four days of their royal tour. Got a story tip? Send it to tips@oath.com Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.