SINGAPORE- Singapore Airlines (SQ) confirmed that one of its Airbus A350 aircraft sustained tail damage during a landing attempt at Singapore Changi Airport on January 24, 2026, due to strong winds.
The flight, operating from Manila, carried 256 passengers and 16 crew members, all of whom disembarked normally after the aircraft landed safely on its second attempt.
Singapore Airlines A350 Grounded
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A350-900 operating flight SQ917 from Manila to Singapore. According to the airline, the first landing attempt at 6.07 pm was aborted due to adverse wind conditions at Changi Airport.
During this rejected landing, also known as an aborted landing, the aircraft’s tail made contact with the runway. A rejected landing occurs when pilots discontinue the landing process shortly before or after touchdown to maintain safety.
After executing a go-around, the aircraft landed safely at 6.32 pm and taxied to the terminal without further issues. Passengers and crew exited the aircraft as per normal procedures, with no injuries reported.
Images shared on the social media platform X by the Breaking Aviation News page showed visible scrape marks on the underside of the aircraft’s tail, indicating a tail strike during the maneuver. Singapore Airlines confirmed that the aircraft is currently undergoing repairs.
The airline did not report any disruption to airport operations or subsequent flights as a result of the incident.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has been contacted for further details regarding the wind conditions at Changi Airport at the time of the incident. No official statement has been released so far on the severity of the weather or any operational advisories issued that day.
Similar Incident
Cathay Pacific (CX) grounded an Airbus A350-1000 following a tail strike during a missed approach at Hong Kong International Airport. The aircraft later landed safely without injuries.
The widebody jet was operating a scheduled service from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong when the unstable approach triggered a go-around and subsequent inspection process.
Missed Approach Leads to Aircraft Grounding
The Airbus A350-1000 was approaching Runway 07C at Hong Kong International Airport when the flight became unstable during the final phase. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft began drifting left of the runway centerline.
In response, the flight crew initiated a go-around to regain stability. During this maneuver, the aircraft sustained a tail strike. The impact did not occur during touchdown but while power and pitch were being increased for the climb.
Despite the contact, the aircraft performed normally and climbed to approximately 6,000 feet. It then repositioned for a second approach and landed safely on the same runway. The arrival was completed 34 minutes behind schedule, shortly before midnight local time.
Aircraft Status and Inspection Process
The affected A350-1000 is around four years old and has not operated any commercial flights since the incident. Cathay Pacific has kept the aircraft grounded for four days to allow detailed engineering inspections.
Structural checks and required repairs are underway before the aircraft can return to active service. The airline is expected to release further information once the assessment is complete. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Understanding Tail Strike Risks in Aviation
A tail strike occurs when the lower rear fuselage contacts the runway due to excessive nose-up pitch. These events are more common during landing than takeoff.
Airbus data shows that around 65 percent of tail strikes happen during landing, while about 25 percent occur during takeoff. Go arounds carry added risk because pilots apply takeoff thrust and pitch input at the same time.
During a go-around, TOGA thrust produces a strong pitch-up moment. Pilots must carefully manage control inputs to avoid over-rotation and structural damage.
Aircraft Systems Designed to Reduce Tail Strikes
Airbus equips its aircraft with pitch limit indicators on the Primary Flight Display below 400 feet. Audible PITCH PITCH warnings activate if pitch limits are exceeded.
Boeing introduced automated tail strike protection on the 777-300ER in 2003. The system adjusts elevator inputs when excessive rotation rates are detected during takeoff.
These protections support pilot decision-making but do not replace precise manual handling, especially during high workload phases such as missed approaches.
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