A Korean Air Airbus A321neo narrowly avoided a potentially dangerous landing at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport after strong crosswinds forced pilots to abort the touchdown at the very last moment. Dramatic footage of the incident, which has now gone viral on social media, showed the aircraft wobbling violently just metres above the runway before the crew initiated a go-around manoeuvre to regain stability.
WATCH: Dramatic video of Korean Air landing
What led to dramatic go-around manoeuvre of Korean Air flight?
The incident reportedly took place amid gusty weather conditions at Narita Airport, one of Japan’s busiest international aviation hubs. As the aircraft descended toward the runway, powerful side winds destabilised the jet, causing it to sway sharply from left to right. The wings could be seen rocking visibly as the pilots struggled to maintain alignment with the runway.
No injuries reported
Seconds before touchdown, the flight crew decided to abandon the landing attempt and executed a go-around, a standard aviation safety procedure used when a landing becomes unsafe or unstable. The pilots applied full thrust, pulled the aircraft upward, and safely climbed away from the runway before circling back for another approach. No injuries or damage to the aircraft were reported.
The aircraft involved was identified as a Korean Air Airbus A321neo registered as HL8532. According to reports, the aircraft is around 2.6 years old and powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines. Aviation experts reviewing the footage praised the crew’s quick decision-making and calm handling of the situation, calling it a “textbook recovery” under difficult conditions.
Experts noted that crosswinds are among the most challenging weather conditions for pilots during landing. Such winds strike the aircraft from the side, reducing directional control and increasing the risk of a hard or unstable touchdown. When wind conditions exceed safe operational limits, pilots are trained to immediately abort the landing and attempt another approach.
Narita Airport, located east of Tokyo, is known for experiencing strong seasonal winds, particularly during changing weather conditions. Aviation analysts said the Korean Air crew’s decision to go around likely prevented a more serious incident and demonstrated the importance of strict safety procedures in commercial aviation.
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