- Flightradar24 data placed two aircraft that had landed ahead of Flight 528 off the runway but nearby.
- FAA data put go-arounds at about one to three per 1,000 flights.
- Safety scrutiny involving the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board is expected.
Alaska Airlines Flight 528 made a go-around at San Francisco International Airport on November 10, 2026, after its pilot saw another aircraft taxiing near the runway where the flight had been cleared to land. The crew later returned and landed at SFO.
The pilot spotted the aircraft herself and initiated the maneuver. An air traffic controller did not alert her to it, according to the account of the incident.
She told passengers the other aircraft was crossing the end of the runway, close to their arrival path. Authorities had not determined the precise level of risk.
The pilot described an aircraft taxiing across the runway end
The pilot explained her decision over the cabin audio system. She described the aircraft’s position this way:
“There was an airplane that was taxiing across the end of the runway that was questionable, in terms of the proximity to our arrival runway.”
She also told passengers, “We thought the best course of action was the safest one, and we'll come back around and do it again.”
Flightradar24 tracking data showed that two aircraft had landed on the same runway shortly before Flight 528. It is not clear which plane the pilot was describing.
Bay Area aviation expert Mike McCarron described SFO’s airspace as congested, with many aircraft moving through it. He said pilots and other aviation personnel need to remain attentive. McCarron also said investigators would need to examine whether the aircraft was moving slowly and whether the spacing between planes played a role.
The Federal Aviation Administration puts the rate of go-arounds at about one to three per 1,000 flights. The figure provides context for the maneuver, but officials had not determined the risk level in this case.
Passengers felt a sharp pull-up before the flight landed
Jake Milstein, a passenger aboard the Boeing 737 and a former KNTV employee, described a sudden upward movement as the aircraft climbed away from its descent.
“It wasn't a gentle motion. It wasn't like we came down, and then gently went up. We were coming down, and then the up was a bit of a jerk.”
Milstein said passengers looked at one another, unsure what was happening. He also described the experience as scary and said he was thankful the pilot recognized the situation. The plane later circled back and landed at SFO.
The airport has seen other aborted landings and close calls. In 2017, an Air Canada aircraft began lining up to land on a taxiway instead of a parallel runway. On May 19, 2023, United and Alaska pilots also aborted landings after spotting a Southwest aircraft on their runways.
An SFO spokesperson declined to comment. Representatives for Alaska Airlines and the FAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Safety investigations involving the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to examine the incident. Authorities had not determined the exact level of risk, and any FAA or NTSB findings on Flight 528 remain the next development to watch.
