Royal couple’s plane aborts Sydney landing after Tonga visit

The plane carrying Harry and Meghan was seconds from touching down but another aircraft blocked its path on the runway.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to leave Tonga today. Picture: AP

A Qantas plane carrying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was forced to abort a landing attempt at Sydney airport this evening, just seconds from touching down, after another aircraft blocked its path on the runway.

Sydney Airport confirmed the minor runway drama with videos posted from on-board the jet, showing the plane descending towards the runway before quickly gaining altitude again.

A spokeswoman from Qantas said the “go-around” procedure conducted by Captain Nigel Rosser was “fairly routine” for a busy Friday night and the couple landed safely just before 6pm. She confirmed another aircraft had been on the runway.

The minor delay meant the royal couple rushed to attend the Australian Geographic awards at the Shangri-La hotel this evening, which recognises the nation’s best adventurers and conservationists.

The were greeted with a huge round of applause when they entered the ballroom of the 5-star hotel just after 8.15pm.

Meghan was wearing a black and white Oscar de la Renta tulle dress for the gala event, while Harry was in a blue suit.

Watch as Meghan and Harry arrive - the duchess in an exquisite Oscar de la Renta dress pic.twitter.com/exQmQh6HEH

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) October 26, 2018

The royal couple, who have spent the past four days in the Pacific nations of Fiji and Tonga, have returned to Australia for a fleeting visit.

They will join footballing royalty and Invictus ambassador, David Beckham and his family, at the final day of the Invictus Games tomorrow before attending the closing ceremony in the evening.

The games, which Harry founded in 2014, give sick and injured military personnel and veterans the opportunity to compete in sports such as wheelchair basketball.

During the couple’s whistlestop visit of Tonga, which marked the 10th and 11th days of the couple’s 16-day tour of the South Pacific, the royals enjoyed activities such as meeting the Tongan royals - King Tupou VI, Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’ah and Princess Angelika Latufuipeka and visiting a cultural exhibit.

But it was perhaps a performance at the oldest secondary school in the Pacific Islands, The Tupou College, which was the most memorable.

Despite warnings from medical experts there was a “moderate risk” the pregnant duchess could contract the mosquito-borne zika virus while visiting Fiji and Tonga, Ms Markle was left crying with laughter after being serenaded with a theatrical song about the disease-carrying insects.

WATCH as flight carrying Duke & Duchess of Sussex aborts landing into Sydney. @qantas pilot says reason was another plane on the runway - and sees the positives... “You’ll get another great view of the harbour”. #RoyalTour #HarryandMeghan pic.twitter.com/TLWA76vIuO

— Simon Atkinson (@atko1978) October 26, 2018

The couple wiped tears of laughter from their eyes as The Tupou College choir performed the song complete with flying actions and buzzing noises - to scare-off any mozzies that might be lingering around.

According to the British government’s foreign travel advice website, the equivalent of DFAT’s Smartraveller, “pregnant women should consider postponing non-essential travel until after the pregnancy”.

But while the duchess was originally scheduled to join Harry for a walk through the school’s onsite forest, she stayed behind.

Earlier, the couple donned floral garlands and were given a ta’ovala, a woven mat wrapped around the waist, as they were welcomed to an exhibition of Tongan youth projects and handicrafts.

Inside, they sat on two throne-like chairs in the centre of the room while Princess Angelika delivered a short address after prayer was read.

The princess said the royal couple were “an inspiration to the youth of the Commonwealth” for “shining a light on youth empowerment”, adding their historic visit to what Captain James Cook called Friendly Islands had inspired the youth in Tonga to be “the best they can be”.

Earlier, Harry and Meghan met the Tongan prime minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and his cabinet.

They were met by more than 50 civil servants wearing red and black shirts and traditional outfits as they entered the government buildings.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: WIRES