A Delta Air Lines flight arriving at LaGuardia Airport from Atlanta had a close call when it abruptly changed direction just 100 feet above the ground. Mindy, a passenger on Delta Flight 468, was seated in the emergency row and witnessed the incident. She described the plane descending lower and lower until she could see the water below. Flight data from Flight Aware showed that at 12:18 PM Eastern Time, the plane was only 100 feet above the ground, but 30 seconds later, it shot back up more than 1,500 feet. Mindy recounted how the pilot pulled the plane up and circled back around the city before making a smooth landing. However, an announcement on the speaker system confirmed that there had been a close call. According to Mindy, the pilot explained that they had to go around because another plane on the runway was taking too much time to clear it. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the go-around, stating that an air traffic controller had instructed Delta Flight 468 to perform the maneuver due to the delayed runway exit of another aircraft. Aviation litigation specialist, Attorney Daniel Rose, explained that going down to 100 feet is considered quite low, and there are specific distance and time criteria that air traffic controllers must follow to ensure safety. Mindy expressed her surprise and concern to her fellow passenger, highlighting the need to discuss the incident. While go-arounds are planned and safe procedures controlled by the pilot, they can be perceived as emergency maneuvers by passengers. Rose mentioned that go-arounds happen more frequently than people might think, but this particular instance was considered close.
Near Miss Incident: Plane Aborts Landing at LaGuardia, Pulls Up Just 100 Feet Above Ground
