On Tuesday night, a Lulutai Airlines Twin Otter aircraft returning from Ha’apai faced a critical situation when a power failure at Fua’amotu Domestic Airport rendered runway lights inoperative.
The two pilots and one passenger onboard were forced to circle for over 40 minutes as technicians attempted to resolve the issue.
Efforts to restore power proved unsuccessful, leading authorities to position two fire trucks on the runway, using their headlights to guide the aircraft’s landing. The plane landed safely, with no reported injuries or damage.
Minister for Infrastructure (including Civil Aviation), Taniela Fusimalohi, expressed concern over the incident during a press conference on Friday, saying that Tonga Airports Limited (TAL) had been warned and a comprehensive report has been requested. He emphasized the necessity for TAL to “carry out their maintenance duties diligently.”
Minister for Public Enterprises, Piveni Piukala, highlighted an additional challenge: the airport electrician resides approximately an hour’s drive from the airport and so directed the repair via telephone. Attempts to rectify the problem remotely were unsuccessful, stressing a need for improved emergency response protocols. Piukala noted that the runway lights were repaired the following evening, attributing the failure to water infiltration causing a malfunction.
The Civil Aviation Division under the Ministry of Infrastructure has initiated an investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences.
