A 'dual input' alert sounded during go-around

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYF (MSN 11529)

A Jetstar Airbus A321 flying from Denpasar (DPS/WADD) to Sydney (SYD/YSSY) performed a late go-around in Sydney after a crosswind approach caused a brief loss of cockpit coordination, according to an Australian safety report.

The ATSB explained that the incident was caused by surprise and a sudden spike in workload during a last-minute go-around, showing how quickly stress can throw off cockpit coordination in critical moments of flight.

On the morning of the 26th of June 2025, JQ038 was approaching Sydney’s runway 16R after an overnight flight from Denpasar. With turbulence making for a bumpy arrival, the first officer, acting as pilot flying, set the aircraft for a ‘flap 3’ landing, a configuration suited to rough conditions.

Passing 500 ft, the captain, as pilot monitoring, confirmed the approach was stable, and air traffic control advised of an expected right crosswind component of 8 kt for landing. 

The first officer initiated the flare at 50 ft and later recalled they ‘over flared,’ with the captain observing that the first officer’s flare technique was consistent with landing with flap full.

“The aircraft floated for a prolonged period above the runway, and, subject to a right crosswind, drifted to the left of the runway centreline,” ATSB Director of Transport Safety Dr Stuart Godle explained.

Observing this deviation, the captain commanded the first officer to conduct a go-around.

“While this decision was a consistent response to the aircraft’s lateral deviation, it took place right when the flight crew was focused on landing,” Dr Godley noted.

“In response to the rapid increase in pitch attitude, engine thrust and airspeed that followed the go-around initiation, the captain instinctively and inadvertently manipulated their sidestick controller while the first officer was flying, resulting in a dual input alarm alert.”

The captain then took full control by engaging their sidestick push-button, and announcing “I have control”, at which point the first officer assumed the role of pilot monitoring.

“A consequence of the control handover during the initial stages of the go-around was the momentary interruption of sequential crew actions during the go-around procedures and, as a result, some of the procedural items were completed out of sequence,” Dr Godley said.

The report details that the first stage of flap was retracted out of sequence, after gear retraction, but there were no associated flight envelope exceedances or negative effects on aircraft performance.

The crew then continued the missed approach and landed soon afterwards without further incident.

Aircraft Information: 

Airline: Jetstar
Code: JQ/JST
Aircraft: Airbus A321-251NX
Registration: VH-OYF
Serial Number: 11529
Engines: 2 x CFMI LEAP-1A32
First Flew: 17 April 2024
Age: 1.8 Years