An incident at Dublin Airport yesterday in which an aircraft almost landed and then took off again is not uncommon, according to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
However, an aircraft's inability to make contact with the air traffic control tower was very unusual, according to the authority.
The Aer Lingus flight from Boston via Shannon was landing when the pilot saw a Ryanair aircraft on the runway. The Ryanair pilot could not contact the control tower for take-off clearance due to a frequency blockage.
Ms Orna Mulcahy, an Irish Times journalist was on the Aer Lingus flight and said the aircraft was almost at roof level when it took off again.
Ms Mulcachy said passengers were "quite taken aback" when the pilot related what happened.
Ms Lilian Cassin of the IAA said both pilots had followed procedure and a "go-around" was not unusual in these circumstances. The frequency blockage could have been caused by something as simple as a button pressed unknowingly.
She praised the actions of the Ryanair pilot. ". . . He stayed on the ground. That was the safest thing he could have done," Ms Cassin said.
A Ryanair spokesman did not wish to comment as the aircraft attempting to land was an Aer Lingus plane. It is understood Aer Lingus chairman, Mr Bernie Cahill, was on the flight.
However, Aer Lingus did not confirm this, as it is the airline's policy to respect passengers' privacy.
"If it was the Pope or Bono or whoever, that wouldn't be confirmed or denied," he said.
It is understood that Mr Cahill boarded at Shannon, having come from New York on an earlier flight.
Passengers praised the Aer Lingus pilot and crew. "The pilot was incredibly skilful," said Ms Mulcahy. "Some passengers didn't even realise what had happened."
