The idea is that the booster will land at its launch site and I think that they would prefer any potential aborts to be over the water. An empty booster may ha

The idea is that the booster will land at its launch site and I think that they would prefer any potential aborts to be over the water. An empty booster may have a good enough drag/lift ratio and altitude to get much of the way back by doing a slight turn and 'gliding' with a little help from the engines.