Near Catastrophe at 125 Feet: Last-Second Go-Around Averts Runway Fatal Crash

On February 15, 2017, a routine evening at San Francisco International Airport nearly escalated into a critical safety event. A Compass Airlines Embraer ERJ170 was on final approach to runway 28L, descending steadily under clear night conditions. At the same time, a Virgin America Airbus A320 was instructed to line up and wait on the same runway for departure.

Accident Facts

Both aircraft followed their clearances precisely, but this overlap created a dangerous runway conflict that went unnoticed for several crucial seconds. As the arriving aircraft continued its descent—passing through approximately 500 feet and rapidly closing in—the airport’s surface surveillance system detected the conflict and triggered an urgent alert in the control tower. By the time the controller reacted, the aircraft had descended even further.

A go-around instruction was immediately issued, and the pilots responded without delay. However, at its lowest point during the maneuver, the arriving aircraft descended to approximately 125 feet above ground level, passing directly over the runway where the other aircraft was positioned. This extremely small vertical separation highlighted just how close the situation had come to a serious accident.

The quick and decisive actions of the controller and flight crew successfully resolved the situation within seconds. The departing aircraft was later cleared for takeoff, and both flights continued safely without any injuries or damage. This incident underscores the critical importance of precise coordination, situational awareness, and rapid response in aviation operations, as well as the vital role of automated safety systems in preventing potential disasters at the last possible moment