British Airways Tail Strike At Heathrow Prompts AAIB Probe

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MDT News Desk November 13, 2026

Go-Around Executed After BA Airbus Scrapes Runway at Heathrow

London’s Heathrow Airport saw a British Airways Airbus strike its tail against the tarmac during a landing attempt on Thursday morning, forcing pilots to abandon touchdown and execute an immediate go-around. Passengers and crew aboard flight BA431 from Amsterdam experienced no injuries as the flight crew touched down safely on their second approach at 10:49 a.m. local time.

AAIB Opens Investigation Into Terminal 5 Touchdown Incident

UK safety officials at the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have launched a formal review into the touchdown alongside British Airways after live footage captured the rear fuselage making contact with the runway at Heathrow Terminal 5. Footage recorded by aviation broadcast channel BigJet TV showed the aircraft swaying during final descent, with the left main landing gear touching down before the right and causing the tail section to strike the ground twice before pilots climbed back into the air. British Airways confirmed the aircraft landed safely on its subsequent attempt and stated that engineering and safety teams are fully assisting the AAIB inquiry into the sequence of events.

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💡 Quick FAQ & IntelligenceTap to Expand

Q: Which flight was involved in the Heathrow tail strike incident?

British Airways flight BA431, an Airbus aircraft operating from Amsterdam to London Heathrow Terminal 5, was involved in the incident.

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Q: Were any passengers injured during the aborted landing at Heathrow?

No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew aboard the aircraft.

Q: Who is investigating the British Airways tail strike?

The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into the incident with full assistance from British Airways.