SAN FRANCISCO- A few days back, a popular Aviation YouTube channel shared a video of Emirates (EK) Airbus A380 performing a go-around at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Go-around is common but this was so smooth that despite experiencing a windshear, the pilots pulled out one of the smoothest A380 go-arounds.
Photo: EmiratesEmirates A380 Go-Around
According to the Aviation A2Z source (verified using Flight data), the incident occurred on March 19, 2025, and involved Emirates flight EK225 (UAE51N) with Airbus A380-841, registered as A6-EUV, powered by four Rolls-Royce (RR) engines.
According to FlightAware data, Emirates flight EK225 left the Gate A23 of Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 8:57 AM local time. After being airborne for approx 16 hours, the flight attempted to land at SFO.
Unfortunately, the A380 witnessed a windshear at 50 feet and following this, the flight crew performed a go-around. It landed safely at SFO and taxied to gate A6.
For those who are not aware of Go-around and Windshear here’s the brief about it:
Photo: Birmingham AirportWhat is Go-Around?
Aviation safety protocols include a critical procedure called the go-around, which occurs when an aircraft aborts its landing approach and rejoins the landing queue. Pilots or air traffic controllers initiate this maneuver when landing conditions fail to meet safety requirements.
Several situations trigger go-arounds. Pilots execute this procedure when encountering unstabilized final approaches. Controllers order go-arounds when the separation between aircraft diminishes or communication issues arise. Airport vehicles occasionally encroach on runways, necessitating last-minute flight path adjustments.
The aviation industry views go-arounds as essential safety tools rather than problematic occurrences. A typical go-around creates only a 10-15 minute delay while prioritizing passenger and aircraft safety above all other considerations.
Go-Arounds at SFO
Data from the FAA Air Traffic Organization reveals go-arounds comprise approximately 0.3% of arrivals at major hub airports nationwide, with rates varying between 0.2% and 0.6%. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) reports go-around rates of 0.3% in fiscal year 2016 and 0.4% in fiscal year 2017, translating to 2-3 daily occurrences. These statistics place SFO within normal parameters compared to other major airports.
The LeighFisher Team analyzed SFO flight data spanning 2015-2018 to identify patterns in go-around incidents. Their research uncovered several notable correlations.
- Go-arounds occurred 1.4 times more frequently during busy summer months than during fall or early spring.
- Aircraft landing on less commonly used runways experienced 1.8 to 4.0 times more go-arounds than those using primary arrival runways.
- Peak arrival times saw 1.5 times more go-arounds than mid-afternoon periods with lighter traffic volume.
Aircraft type also influences go-around likelihood. Widebody aircraft initiated go-arounds 1.1 times more often than narrowbody or regional jets. Small aircraft, including jets, turboprops, and propeller planes, showed 1.2 times higher go-around rates. Foreign passenger carriers performed 1.4 times more go-arounds than their U.S. counterparts.
Based on this extensive data collection, the LeighFisher Team developed a six-category classification schema for documenting go-arounds. These categories range from routine maneuvers with no immediate safety concerns to emergency procedures averting potential accidents.
SFO demonstrates a commitment to runway safety through its proactive approach. The airport conducts monthly runway safety meetings and maintains ongoing coordination with the FAA and airlines to analyze go-around causes and frequencies. This collaborative effort helps identify patterns and implement preventative measures.
The airport emphasizes that 97.4% of go-arounds at SFO begin at least one mile from the airport. Weather conditions play a significant role, as non-standard runway configurations necessitated by adverse weather correlate with increased go-around incidents.
Photo: Antonio Pirro’What is Windshear?
Wind shear presents significant hazards to aircraft during critical flight phases, particularly during takeoff and landing operations. This phenomenon involves sudden changes in wind velocity or direction that can dramatically affect aircraft performance with little warning.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), wind shear manifests in two primary forms. Vertical wind shear occurs when horizontal wind direction or speed changes with altitude, measured by multiple anemometers positioned at different heights on a single mast. Horizontal wind shear involves changes in horizontal wind direction or speed across a distance, detected by anemometers mounted at identical heights along a runway.
Low-level turbulence poses particular dangers to aircraft in the departure or arrival phases. This hazardous condition typically accompanies specific weather phenomena. Frontal surfaces, where different air masses meet, create environments conducive to wind shear development. Jet streams, with their rapid air movement and clear boundaries, generate significant wind gradients. Thunderstorms and convective clouds, especially cumulonimbus or towering cumulus formations, produce intense updrafts and downdrafts resulting in severe wind shear.
Mountain waves form when stable air flows over mountainous terrain, creating oscillating airflow patterns extending far downwind from the mountains themselves. Microbursts, perhaps the most dangerous manifestation, consist of powerful downdrafts that spread outward upon hitting the ground, creating rapidly changing and unpredictable wind conditions.
The operational consequences of wind shear during the approach can be severe. Aircraft experiencing horizontal or vertical wind shear may suffer sudden airspeed loss and apparent power reduction, potentially leading to catastrophic outcomes.
A rapid change in wind component or drift before landing destabilizes the approach at critical moments when go-around maneuvers become impossible or extremely hazardous.
Pilot response to wind shear encounters must be immediate and precise. The first crucial step involves quick recognition of wind shear conditions, followed by executing appropriate recovery procedures without delay. Training programs emphasize these recognition skills and proper response techniques as essential elements of aviation safety.
Airports in areas prone to wind shear conditions typically employ specialized detection systems to provide early warnings to approaching and departing aircraft. These systems, combined with meteorological forecasting and pilot awareness, form a multi-layered defense against wind shear-related incidents.
Here’s the Video with all the details:
Here’s the Video Transcript with the help of the LiveATC conversation used inside:
- oh he went around
- what happened i can hear on the radio
- what happened yeah what happened that’s
- a That’s a big That’s a lot to go around
- that was a freaky last minute emmer 51
- November super fly runway heading cl
- maintain 3000 runway heading 3,000
- Emirates 51 November the go run was
- windshear
- emirates 51 November super reason for go
- that was windshear now please stand by
- i’ll call you in a minute emirates 51
- November
- sorry 1340 above 28 right 1340 San
- Francisco tower caution wake turbulence
- heavy
- [Applause]
- [Music]
- super bus went around 28 right clear
- land all right thanks uh do you have the
- wind check for it
- wind 270 7 270 7
- Thanks emirates 51 November super
- contact 135.1
- 1351 51 November sorry I couldn’t get
- back to you earlier that was your
- windshare at about 50 ft okay thank you
- 1340 be advised of a super Airbus
- reported windshare at 50 ft on
- runway roger that
- no Emirates 51 November super we went
- around runway 28 right your windshear at 50 ft tracking to VQ 3,000
- ft 4733 San Francisco tower runway 28
- right clear land traffic be advised
- heavy correction super airbus reported
- wind share on the runway at 50 ft right
- clear land 4733 roger
- oh he went
- Man what happened i didn’t hear on the
- radio what happened yeah what happened
- that’s a That’s a big That’s a lot to go
- around that was a freaky last minute
Emirates Airbus A380 | Photo: Clément AlloingFailed Emirates Go-Around
An Emirates Airbus A380 experienced a runway excursion while landing in Singapore when the Pilot Flying (PF) failed to respond appropriately to “go around” instructions from the Pilot Monitoring (PM). The serious incident occurred on March 2, 2023, at 14:27 local time amid heavy rainfall, according to Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) final report.
The aircraft, registered as A6-EVJ, was completing its Dubai-Singapore service when it encountered deteriorating weather conditions during the final approach. The Pilot Flying reported that intensifying rain affected his aircraft handling capabilities during the ILS approach to runway 02L.
At 180 feet altitude, the Pilot Flying disengaged the autopilot as both crew members observed the aircraft drifting right off the runway centerline. The Pilot Flying applied left stick and rudder inputs to correct this deviation. Despite recognizing the misalignment, he maintained that a safe landing remained possible.
The Pilot Monitoring called for a “go around” when the aircraft reached 30 feet above ground level. The Pilot Flying responded with “No it’s ok” and continued the approach. He later told investigators he didn’t actually understand what the Pilot Monitoring said but chose not to seek clarification, instead focusing on landing the aircraft.
A second “go-around” call came from the Pilot Monitoring during touchdown. The Pilot Flying neither acknowledged nor responded to this instruction and proceeded with the landing roll. In subsequent interviews, the Pilot Flying claimed he didn’t hear this second call.
The runway excursion resulted in damage to three runway lights and a punctured aircraft tire, though no passengers or crew members sustained injuries.
Emirates implemented several safety measures following the incident. The airline shared details of the excursion with all flight crews on March 17 and developed a case study about the event for pilots’ recurring training programs.
Emirates now emphasizes during annual crew resource management and technical training that once a Pilot Monitoring calls for a “go-around,” pilots must execute this maneuver without question. The airline also instructs Pilot Monitoring personnel to prepare to take control and perform a missed approach even if the aircraft has already touched the ground.
Featured Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Emirates A380 Pilots Aborts Takeoff at Birmingham Airport
The post Emirates A380 Pilots Performs Go-Around at 50 Ft at San Francisco appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
