United Airlines flight UA1023 landed safely at San Francisco International Airport on 30 October after the Boeing 757-200 went around on approach and the crew reported a fuel emergency to air traffic control. The aircraft, registered as N19117, was arriving from Boston Logan. Controllers cleared it to land on Runway 28R again, and it touched down at about 11:24 a.m. local time, roughly 14 minutes after the first approach. No injuries were reported.
The crew initiated the go-around at about 75 feet, later citing an unstable approach. During the subsequent climb to 5,000 feet, the pilots transmitted “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, fuel emergency” and reported about 5,200 pounds (2,360 kg) of fuel remaining. Controllers had warned the crew of wake turbulence from a Boeing 787 that landed ahead and a slight tailwind; available information does not establish whether either factor contributed to the unstable approach.
United’s account differs from the recorded radio call. A spokesperson said the crew “did not declare an emergency”; the aircraft also retained its assigned transponder code. The discrepancy remains unresolved. The fuel figure and call do not, by themselves, establish that the aircraft was close to running out of fuel. United confirmed that 91 passengers and six crew were aboard.