What is a Go-Around? Why Pilots Abort Landings
A clear explanation of go-arounds — what causes them, why they're routine and safe, and what passengers experience during and after one.
FlightyFlow Team·· 5 min read
What a go-around is
A go-around (or missed approach) is the standard maneuver where pilots abort a landing and climb back to altitude to set up another approach.
Why it happens
- Spacing. The aircraft ahead hasn't cleared the runway in time.
- Wind. A sudden gust or wind shear puts the approach outside limits.
- Vehicle on runway. Birds, equipment, or debris.
- Unstabilized approach. Crew judges the approach unsafe and elects to try again.
What you experience
- Sudden engine power increase — often the loudest moment of the flight.
- Climb attitude — nose pitches up.
- Gear retraction noise.
- Cabin announcement — a brief explanation from the captain.
- 5–15 minutes of extra flying before another attempt.
How safe is a go-around?
Routine. Pilots train them constantly. Every commercial pilot has done many in simulator and several in the real world.
What happens next
- The flight enters a holding pattern or vectors back to the approach.
- ATC sequences the second attempt.
- If multiple go-arounds happen, the flight may divert to a nearby airport.
What the tracker shows
FlightyFlow shows the actual flown path. After a go-around you'll see the loop or vector segment clearly.
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