AN easyjet pilot was forced to aborted a landing at Southend Airport because his plane was too high, it has been confirmed. The pilot pulled out of the landing just after 4pm on Wednesday, August 1, deciding the plane was not low enough to touch down safely. Confirmation of the incident came after the airline had earlier denied its control centre had any knowledge of it.

The Echo received several letters from people concerned about the aborted landing, including a passenger who had been aboard the Airbus 319 plane. A Southend Airport spokesman said: “An Airbus 319 carried out a standard ‘go around’ procedure while approaching the airport. “The pilot reported his approach speed was higher than desired and he elected to go around and make a second approach. “This is a standard procedure and having gone around, the aircraft landed eight minutes later.” The pilot ended up touching down on the airport’s single runway from the opposite direction. An easyjet spokesman said: “On occasion, all pilots need to take the decision to go around on landing, for operational reasons. This is a routine procedure and one for which all pilots are trained. “On this occasion, it was due to a short notice change of runway allocation. “The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and the pilot made the right decision to ensure a safe and comfortable landing.” Wind direction is the usual reason for such a last-minute change. The Civil Aviation Authority, which regulates flights over the UK, said the airline was not obliged to report the incident, as it had been non-hazardous. A spokesman added: “We have not received a report of the incident, which would have had to be notified to us within 96 hours if it had been potentially hazardous. “Go-arounds are a standard procedure pilots are trained to undertake if operational factors make it the safest option on attempting a landing.”