Floating platforms found by fliers on the way back (5)
I believe the answer is:
rafts
'floating platforms' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'fliers on the way back' is the wordplay.
'fliers' becomes 'RAF' (Royal Air Force).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'the way back' becomes 'ts' ('st' abbreviation for street, written backwards).
'raf'+'ts'='RAFTS'
'found by' is the link.
(Other definitions for rafts that I've seen before include "Flat floats" , "Flat boats" , "Flat, floating platforms" , "Flat floating structures" .)