Ask the pilot: The plane is about to land, when all of a sudden the engines roar and it's climbing …

There you are, belted in for landing, at a window seat in Row 36. The approach is smooth, the weather clear, the landing gear drops into place. Down, down, down you come. At 500 feet or so, you can make out the writing on billboards; touchdown is only seconds away.

Then, without warning, the engines roar and the aircraft pitches up sharply. For a second or two the plane seems to wallow,… » Full Story on Salon.com