What is a go around? Are they safe?

A go-around is a standard safety procedure in which an aircraft approaching an airport breaks off its approach and flies a circuit before landing. It occurs whenever a pilot or air traffic controller believes that it would be safer to ‘go around’ than to continue with the landing.

It can happen for a variety of reasons including adverse weather, or the preceding aircraft being slow to turn off the runway or start its take-off run. It does not pose a threat to safety.