SAA 340-600 returns after take off - CT

[Tallman]

I was driving on the R300 today at around 09:45 when I saw a SAA 340-600 take off and make a tight and low turn and go in an unusual direction. A minute or so later I saw it land again, quite unusual. Anybody hear about this and have details?

[I.R.PIRATE]

We will probably have the woeful tale in all of tomorrow's newspapers of how the pax were dying and crying and bleeding and praying and screaming....you get the idea...

[Romeo E.T.]

I will hesitate a guess that it wasn't a normal "long-haul" scheduled flight, or else there was a major emergency on board that would have been headlines on all news broadcasts...the reason...on a normal "long-haul" flight the Bus would be well over its landing weight and probably take in excess of 45 minutes to dump to landing weight...thus an immediate return unless in a severe emergency would not take place.

Probably light for a domestic schedule or a maintenance test flight.

[rockpecker]

Happened in Frankfurt a few years ago, I was watching a Korean 747 take off, it flew little more than a circuit, and landed again. Very soon afterwards it was thundering down the runway once more. The reason given was a very, very important lady on board forgot her fur coat in the B/C lounge, and made such a fuss that the crew had to turn back. Whether they just picked up the coat or offloaded her, I dont know. True or false, it still causes a giggle.

[E-tjops]

It was a go-around. No idea why:eek:

[Tallman]

A go around makes most sense. I only saw the turn out not the actual take off.

[Rabscuttle]

Go around due unstable approach. Light tailwind on final.