Why did my plane land then take off?

Why did my plane land and go back up?

Why did the plane go up again? huh.

It happens, doesn't it?

• Wind shear, maybe. A nasty gust right at the last second. Scares you silly.

• Another plane on the runway. Some idiot crossing where they shouldn't.

• Configuration issues. Did they forget something?

• Mechanical problem after the descent started. Yikes.

I was flying back from my aunt's funeral in Savannah, it was raining. I hate flying. It lurched up like a bucking bronco. My heart leaped. Terrifying, it really was. Thought this was it.

There could have been a bird strike, too. Those scare me too.

Landing, taking off, so much can go wrong.

Why did my plane land and go back up?

A go-around, that's what pilots call it, happens for several reasons. It's all about safety, see?

• Unstable approach: Think sudden wind shear or a gusty crosswind messing with the plane's control. Tricky business landing in those conditions. It's better to gain altitude and try again.

• Runway issues: Another aircraft or vehicle wanders onto the runway. Called a runway incursion. Happens more than you'd think. I saw it once at JFK, wild!

• Aircraft configuration problems: Flaps not fully deployed or landing gear issues. These things need to be checked twice (at least!).

• Poor visibility: Fog rolls in, or heavy rain obscures the runway, making it unsafe to land. A pilot's got to see where they're going!

• Pilot error: Look, everyone makes mistakes. A misjudgment of altitude or speed could prompt a go-around. Better safe than sorry.

• Mechanical Issues: Engine trouble is a definite no-go for landing. The pilot needs to assess the situation.

Why return to the departure airport? Could be serious mechanical failure, medical emergency, or something like running into unexpected severe weather. I remember once my flight back from Miami had to land back at MIA due to a faulty oil pressure sensor, yikes!