Update adds Emirates Statement

“Emirates flight EK 745 from Dubai to Malta on 29th October aborted landing due to a malfunctioning light aircraft which had not cleared the runway. The runway was closed for ten minutes until the aircraft was removed.  As a standard procedure EK 745 circled for re-approach and safely landed. Emirates apologises for the inconvenience caused. The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance and will not be compromised," the airline said in a statement.

Earlier

Passengers on an Emirates flight from Dubai to Malta this afternoon feared the worst after the aircraft’s screen suddenly showed that their destination had been changed to Tunis while the cabin crew disappeared from sight.

As it turns out, they had nothing to fear: the flight’s captain, after being informed of a broken aircraft on the Malta runway, decided to head for Tunis for fuel reasons, only to end up landing at the Malta International Airport anyway – and on time – after the situation was swiftly addressed by staff on the ground.

One of the passengers, MEP Marlene Mizzi, took to Facebook to recount her personal experience, describing it as the “worst 15 minutes of my life.”

The aircraft was starting to prepare for landing when it changed direction and started flying higher, while its screens showed that the destination had been changed to Tunis.

At the same time, Ms Mizzi said, cabin crew disappeared from the aisles and pressing the call button to seek an explanation proved futile.

“Passengers were looking at each other, obviously worried; some started to panic,” the MEP said.

“I honestly thought we were hijacked.”

When contacted, a Malta International Airport spokesman explained that the runway had been closed as a result of a minor accident – a microlight aircraft had been damaged in a heavy landing, although no one was injured. But the closure only lasted some 10 minutes due to airport staff’s timely response.

The flight’s captain had decided to change destination when he was informed of the incident – according to Ms Mizzi, this was for fuel reasons – but this decision was changed yet again when the runway reopened minutes later.

The airport spokesman stressed that the aircraft was nowhere near the airport when this happened, and that the flight still landed on time.

Ms Mizzi, however, pointed out that being kept in the dark about what was happening was far from ideal.

“While I do not question such decisions taken, it would have been sensible, prudent and considerate if the captain explained to us what was happening long before he did – especially since even the cabin crew disappeared,” she wrote.

“Hats off to Emirates for many things , but in this instance we were treated like cargo! It was a very scary quarter of an hour,” she added.