What Really Happens During a Go-Around

You’re sitting by the window, watching the runway rush closer… and suddenly, the engines roar, the nose points up, and the plane climbs away. Heart rate spikes. What just happened?

That’s a go-around — and despite the drama, it’s one of the safest, most practiced maneuvers in aviation. Pilots are trained to treat it as a perfectly normal option if conditions aren’t right for landing.

Reasons? Could be anything: another plane still on the runway, unexpected crosswinds, or even just the approach not being perfectly stable. Safety first, every time.

From the cockpit view, it’s actually pretty routine. Pilots push the throttles forward, retract flaps as needed, and circle around for another try. Passengers might feel a jolt, but up front it’s as ordinary as hitting “undo” on your laptop.

Fun fact: pilots will decide go-arounds in under 60 seconds on the flight deck. It’s an exhibition that takes high-precision flying skills, and it proves just how much aviation prioritizes safety and caution.

So the next time you’re climbing away instead of touching down, don’t panic. You’ve just been part of one of aviation’s best safety moves — with a bonus second chance to enjoy the landing.

Image source: Prashant Pradhan (Unsplash)