Air New Zealand has rejected reports of a near miss at Timaru’s Richard Pearse Airport on Wednesday morning, saying its pilots carried out a standard go-around to allow another aircraft to land first.

The response to chrislynchmedia.com followed a news report in which a witness described a near miss after watching the aircraft’s movements on Flightradar24.

Air New Zealand said another aircraft was in the vicinity of the airport and intended to land around the same time as flight NZ5193, which was travelling from Wellington.

The airline said its crew allowed the other aircraft to land first, following standard operating procedures and completing a go-around before returning to land safely a short time later.

Air New Zealand Chief Safety and Risk Officer Nathan McGraw said the manoeuvre was prompted by other aircraft traffic.

“Flight NZ5193 completed a standard go-around while approaching Timaru this morning due to other aircraft traffic in the area. Our pilots followed standard operating procedures, and the aircraft landed safely a short time later.”

Richard Pearse Airport does not operate an air traffic control tower.