On the night of June 12, 2024, an easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Santorini, Greece, experienced difficulties landing on the island. The flight, identified as U28253, departed from Gatwick Airport at 18:00 BST, approximately one hour behind schedule. The 5-year-old Airbus A320, registered as G-UZHR, began its final approach to runway 33 at Santorini Airport around 23:20 local time.
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However, the landing was not smooth. Reports from airlive.net indicate that the aircraft had to abort its landing due to strong winds at the airport. The pilot performed a go-around, a maneuver where the pilot aborts a landing and circles around for another attempt. The aircraft circled for approximately 30 minutes before successfully landing at 00:33 local time, over an hour after its scheduled arrival time of 23:20. The incident caused some concern among passengers and observers, as the aircraft was seen to be very close to the runway during its first landing attempt. However, the pilot's decision to abort the landing and perform a go-around was a safety measure to ensure a safe landing.
The delay in landing was attributed to the strong winds at Santorini Airport. The island is known for its windy conditions, which can sometimes make landings and takeoffs challenging. Despite the delay and the aborted landing, the flight landed safely, and there were no reports of injuries or further incidents. This incident highlights the challenges that pilots face when flying in adverse weather conditions. It also underscores the importance of safety measures and the training that pilots undergo to handle such situations.
The successful landing of the easyJet flight U28253 after a go-around demonstrates the effectiveness of these safety measures and the skill of the pilot in managing the situation. In conclusion, the easyJet flight U28253 struggled to land at Santorini Island during the night due to strong winds, but the pilot's decision to perform a go-around ensured a safe landing. This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather conditions and the importance of safety measures in aviation.