Asiana A350 Triggers Alert with Low Altitude SFO Approach

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an investigation into an incident involving an Asiana Airlines Airbus A350-900 that descended to an unusually low altitude during its approach to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The flight, OZ-212, triggered a Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW) after dropping to approximately 375 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) while still three to four miles from Runway 28L on February 23, 2025. Air Traffic Control (ATC) immediately issued a low-altitude alert, and the crew executed a go-around, landing safely 15 minutes later.

The incident is significant as the aircraft was well below the standard flight path for a stabilized approach. According to the FAA's own Advisory Circular 120-71B, which outlines stabilized approach criteria, an aircraft on a standard 3-degree glidepath should be at approximately 1,000 feet AGL at three nautical miles from the runway threshold. The Asiana A350's deviation from this profile was substantial enough to activate the ground-based MSAW system, a critical safety net designed to prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).

Flight tracking data from Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) sources confirmed the aircraft's altitude and position over the San Francisco Bay. In response to the event, Asiana Airlines spokesperson Jeong-eun Lee stated that the flight crew recognized the low altitude and "had already decided to execute a go-around while simultaneously receiving information from air traffic control." Michael J. McCormick, an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, noted that air traffic controllers "averted a potential incident" by issuing the timely alert.

The event places Asiana Airlines' flight operations under renewed scrutiny, particularly given the airline's history at SFO. For SFO's ATC personnel, the incident validates the effectiveness of the MSAW system but also highlights the pressure on the facility, which was operating with 22 fully certified controllers against a target of 30 at the time.

Historical Context at SFO

This low-altitude approach is not an isolated event for Asiana Airlines or for San Francisco International Airport. The incident carries particular weight due to its striking similarities to the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in July 2013. That flight, a Boeing 777-200ER, also crashed while landing on the very same runway, 28L, after the flight crew mismanaged the final approach, resulting in three fatalities. The NTSB's official report on that accident provides a critical historical backdrop to the airline's procedures.

More recently, SFO was the site of another near-disaster in July 2017 when Air Canada Flight 759 descended toward a taxiway occupied by four other aircraft, coming within 59 feet of the ground before executing a go-around. That incident prompted the FAA to change nighttime approach procedures at the airport. The pattern of unstabilized approaches underscores the unique challenges of SFO's parallel runway operations and complex airspace.

Technical Analysis

This event fits into a broader industry trend of increased regulatory focus on unstabilized approaches and flight path management. Coming after other high-profile events, such as a Southwest Airlines flight that descended to 525 feet nine miles from the airport in Oklahoma City, the FAA's investigation into Asiana Flight OZ-212 is expected to be thorough. The incident demonstrates a successful layered safety defense: the flight crew's recognition, the automated MSAW system's alert, and the controller's instruction all contributed to a safe outcome. However, it also raises questions about why the aircraft deviated so significantly from the vertical profile in the first place. The investigation will likely examine the flight crew's training, the operational procedures for visual approaches to Runway 28L, and any potential contributing factors from the aircraft's systems.

Investigation and Next Steps

The FAA's investigation is active, with a preliminary report expected to be published in the second quarter of 2025. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has not yet announced its own investigation, it is monitoring the FAA's findings. Beyond the U.S. regulatory response, it has been reported as likely that South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) may conduct its own safety audit of Asiana Airlines, though no official confirmation has been made.

Why This Matters

For the aviation industry, this incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of stabilized approaches and the effectiveness of automated safety nets like MSAW. It validates the go-around as a standard, safe maneuver that should be executed without hesitation when an approach becomes unstable. For Asiana Airlines, it reopens scrutiny of its training and operational culture, especially in light of the tragic history at the same airport. The event also highlights the persistent strain on the U.S. air traffic control system, where staffing shortages can increase workload during complex and unexpected events.