ANA 737 Pilots Failed to Land Twice at Rishiri, Returns to Sapporo

ANA 737 Pilots Failed to Land Twice at Rishiri, Returns to Sapporo

SAPPORO– An All Nippon Airways (NH) flight, conducted by ANA Wings, was compelled to abort landing on two occasions at Rishiri Airport (RIS) on July 1, 2025, before returning safely to New Chitose Airport (CTS) in Sapporo.

The flight, using a Boeing 737-800 (registration JA88AN), was initially departing from Sapporo (CTS) toward Rishiri Island but faced ongoing weather difficulties that hindered a secure landing.

Flight NH4929 made two attempts to land at Rishiri Airport (RIS) before executing a go-around and ultimately choosing to return to Sapporo (CTS). According to data from Flightradar24, the aircraft circled over nearby Rebun Island and Rishiri Fuji before deciding to abandon the landing.

ANA’s official communication indicated that poor visibility and adverse winds played a significant role in the unsuccessful landing attempts. Satellite data further indicated notable wind activity around Rishiri and Wakkanai (WKJ), complicating alternative landing options.

While Wakkanai Airport is geographically closer, ANA opted against diverting there due to operational constraints, including limited infrastructure, reduced ground handling capabilities, and inadequate support for overnight passengers.

Utilizing a major hub reduces network disruptions and allows for better accommodation of passengers on future flights, including potential rebooking on Japan Airlines (JL) later that day.

The aircraft involved, a Boeing 737-800 with tail number JA88AN, maintained stable altitude and speed profiles throughout the aborted landings, indicating no mechanical problems. The go-arounds were executed with precision, reinforcing that the decision was made solely on environmental safety grounds.

Flight tracking visuals captured the looping approach patterns around Rishiri Island, with the final U-turn back to Sapporo occurring around 05:00 UTC.

ANA operates services to both Rishiri and Wakkanai, but Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS) offers enhanced passenger facilities, better crew accommodations, and increased rebooking options.

Illustration related to the incident

Related Incident

An Air New Zealand (NZ) flight from Brisbane (BNE) to Wellington (WLG) was also forced to abort landing due to wind shear during its final approach on September 26, 2024.

The Airbus A321-200N performed a go-around after briefly touching the runway, subsequently diverting to Auckland (AKL) for precautionary inspections.

Flight NZ272 was approaching Wellington Airport (WLG) when it encountered sudden wind shear shortly before touchdown.

Although the landing gear briefly made contact with the runway, the crew executed a go-around following standard protocols without delay.

According to Captain Hugh Pearce, head of flight operations at Air New Zealand, the crew’s response was commendable and led to the diversion of the aircraft for thorough evaluations at Auckland Airport (AKL).

While initial video footage suggested a possible tail strike, a spokesperson later confirmed that a detailed inspection revealed no tail contact.

Severe wind conditions in Wellington, reaching over 100 kph, were corroborated by MetService, which had earlier issued a strong wind advisory. The severe weather disrupted multiple flights across the region.

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Based on an article from aviationa2z.com: https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/07/02/ana-737-pilots-failed-to-land-twice-at-rishiri-returns-to-sapporo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ana-737-pilots-failed-to-land-twice-at-rishiri-returns-to-sapporo

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