Pakistan, Nov. 26 -- The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday dismissed media reports claiming that a major accident was averted at Islamabad International Airport, calling the incident a standard safety procedure. The clarification followed reports that Saudia Airlines flight SV278 from Jeddah narrowly avoided landing on a closed runway.

According to flight tracking data, the flight was scheduled to land at 4:05pm but touched down at 5:13pm, over an hour late. The PAA stated that the aircraft performed a "go-around," a routine manoeuvre in which the landing approach is discontinued, and the plane is returned to a safe altitude and configuration for another landing attempt.

"Go-arounds are common, non-emergency procedures carr...