Summary
- A LATAM flight between Sao Paulo and Sao Jose almost landed within the incorrect airport resulting from a GPS mismatch, however the crew quickly realized the error and initiated a go-around.
- This incident just isn’t unique, as there have been previous cases of flights landing on the incorrect airport, including examples in Brazil and the US.
A LATAM Brasil flight LA4640 flying between Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and So José do Río Preto Airport (SJP) almost ended up within the incorrect airport after the crew reported to have a GPS mismatch.
Ending up within the incorrect airport
Remember those online jokes through which people put big signs outside of certain airports with the names of other airports, thus confusing the passengers in the event that they were actually landing within the incorrect place? Well, this time, a LATAM flight almost landed within the incorrect place. Nonetheless, no prankster was behind the incident.
As reported first by The Aviation Herald, the incident took place on November 14. The aircraft involved, an Airbus A320-200 registration PR-MHM, was performing flight LA4640 between Sao Paulo Guarulhos and Sao José do Rio Preto.
While on approach to Sao José do Rio Preto, the crew reported they’d encountered a GPS mismatch. Shortly after, the crew told the air traffic controller they’d begun the RNAV approach procedure to Sao Jose, however the controller sent them back to the approach frequency as they were too far out to be talking to the tower.
Photo: FlightRadar24.
After resuming communications with the approach controllers, the pilots contacted Sao Jose’s tower frequency again. They told them they were now starting a 360-degree descending turn toward the airport. Once more, the controllers within the airport’s tower sent them to the approach frequency, but this time, the crew said they’d the airport in sight.
That’s when the controllers at Sao José explained to the pilots on flight LA4640 that they were approaching Catanduva Aerodrome, which is about 33 miles away from Sao Jose.
Photo: FlightRadar24.
After checking out about their mistake, the crew initiated a go-around at about 1,000 feet, contacted the approach, and positioned to the right airport for a protected landing.
Shortly after, LATAM’s flight landed in the right airport without further issue.
More incidents like this
While it just isn’t something that happens day by day, there have been incidents up to now of flights landing on the incorrect airport resulting from some form of mishap. In Brazil, it has happened up to now as well.
In 2011, an Azul Linhas Aéreas Embraer ERJ-195 operating the flight AD9136 from Fortaleza to Teresina landed in Timon, about 3.1 nautical miles away from its actual destination. When the crew realized its mistake, they took off again and accomplished the journey with only a 20-minute delay.
Photo: Thiago B Trevisan | Shutterstock.
A Southwest Airlines flight also missed its intended airport in 2014. The flight operated onboard a Boeing 737-700, was presupposed to land at Branson Airport, the primary business airstrip near Branson, Missouri. As an alternative, it landed on the M. Graham Clark Downtown Airport, about seven miles from its true destination. Onboard the flight, there have been 124 passengers.
But this just isn’t all! There are various more incidents like this, and we now have recently published a transient history of flights landing on the incorrect airport. Make sure you test it out.
Do you already know of any more incidents where a business flight almost leads to the incorrect airport? Tell us within the comments below.