It appears everyone's favorite royal couple have hit a bumpy turn during their travels. A Qantas charter plane carrying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was required to abandon its initial landing Friday. The flight from Tonga to Sydney safely landed on the runway after its second attempt.
Meghan Markle, 37, and Prince Harry, 34, were traveling as a part of their 16-day tour through Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga from October 16 to October 31. According to the Associated Press, the flight deck announced to travelers: "There was an aircraft on the runway a little slow to roll, so the decision was taken to abort the landing."
The Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English, who was also aboard the flight, detailed the experience Friday via Twitter.
"Minor drama as our @Qantas charter plane—also carrying Harry and Meghan—had to pull up seconds from landing in Sydney because of another aircraft on the runway," English tweeted. "Pilot said we were too close. What's known as a missed approach. We had to circle and try again."
Minor drama as our @Qantas charter plane - also carrying Harry and Meghan - had to pull up seconds from landing in Sydney because of another aircraft on the runway. Pilot said we were too close. What’s known as a missed approach. We had to circle and try again ✈️ pic.twitter.com/Wa5O6TI0a1
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) October 26, 2018
The BBC's royal correspondent Jonny Dymond noted how "such aborted landings are not extraordinary events." Dymond additionally insisted that "at no point was there any risk to [the] safety of the Duke and Duchess."
Simon Atkinson, a video journalist for BBC Australia, tweeted how the plane's pilot suggested those on board will at least "get another great view of the harbor."
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
Meghan and Harry are expected to stay in Sydney for two nights. Afterward, they will travel to New Zealand, the final stop on their trip. The royal couple's 16-day venture mark's the pair's first official overseas joint tour.
"There is a long history of friendship between the Royal Family and Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and their links with the UK are extensive," the royal family said in a statement. "The Duke and Duchess are very much looking forward to experiencing the unique cultures and customs of these four Commonwealth countries, and have asked that this tour allow them opportunities to meet as many Australians, Fijians, Tongans and New Zealanders as possible."
The statement continued, "Together they look forward to building an enduring relationship with the people of the region."
The duke and duchess's trip has been far from smooth sailing. Meghan, for one, has had to take extra protective measures while visiting Fiji and Tonga due to the region's association with the Zika virus, an infection that can cause birth defects in babies. The pair were also forced to cut their tour of Fiji short due to security concerns over "crowd management issues," the Kensington Palace said Wednesday.
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