LOS ANGELES- A Lufthansa (LH) Boeing 747-8 operating flight LH456 from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) performed a go-around on October 10, 2026, after a dramatic landing approach brought its tail dangerously close to the runway.
The aircraft, registered D-ABYK, landed safely on its second attempt, 15 minutes after its initial touchdown attempt. The incident delayed its return flight to Frankfurt, although the jet subsequently arrived in Germany ahead of schedule on October 11.
Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Performs Go-Around
Lufthansa flight LH456 operates daily between Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the United States. The long-haul service typically takes around 11 hours and 30 minutes, connecting two major international aviation hubs.
According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, LH456 was scheduled to depart Frankfurt at 10:40 AM and arrive in Los Angeles at 1:10 PM local time on October 10. However, the flight departed at 11:18 AM, slightly behind schedule, before approaching LAX for its initial landing attempt at approximately 1:18 PM.
The landing attempt took an unexpected turn when the Boeing 747-8 pitched sharply upward near touchdown. Footage captured by an airport planespotting livestream showed the aircraft executing a go-around, with its tail coming within inches of striking runway 24R.
The maneuver prevented the aircraft from completing the landing on its first attempt. The jet climbed away from the runway, circled the airport, and returned for another approach.
The Boeing 747-8 subsequently landed safely at approximately 1:33 PM, around 15 minutes after its initial attempt.
Lufthansa Confirms Safe Landing After Go-Around
A Lufthansa spokesperson confirmed that flight LH456 performed a go-around while approaching Los Angeles on October 10.
“LH456 performed a go-around on October 10 while approaching Los Angeles and landed normally and safely on its second attempt. This is a standard procedure that has been well-rehearsed. Safety is always a top priority at Lufthansa.”
A go-around is a standard aviation procedure in which pilots discontinue an approach and climb away from the runway before attempting another landing or following instructions from air traffic control.
Pilots may initiate a go-around when an approach does not meet the required safety conditions for landing. The maneuver allows the flight crew to reposition the aircraft for another approach rather than continue with an unstable or otherwise unsuitable landing.
In LH456’s case, the aircraft completed the maneuver and landed safely on its second attempt. The available information does not establish the precise operational reason for the go-around beyond the reported landing approach and the tail strike scare.
Boeing 747-8 D-ABYK Returns to Service After LAX Incident
The aircraft involved in the incident was D-ABYK, a Boeing 747-8 delivered to Lufthansa in August 2013 after its first flight in July that year. According to ch-aviation data cited in the original report, the aircraft was approximately 13.22 years old at the time of the incident.
The aircraft’s reported cabin configuration includes 244 economy-class seats, 32 premium economy seats, 80 business-class seats and eight first-class seats. This gives the aircraft a total capacity of 364 passengers.
Despite the proximity of its tail to the runway during the aborted landing, the aircraft’s tail did not make contact with the runway surface. The available report also did not identify any resulting damage that required the aircraft to be removed from service for repairs.
Following its successful landing at LAX, D-ABYK prepared for its return journey to Germany as flight LH457.
Return Flight LH457 Departs Nearly an Hour Late
Lufthansa flight LH457 was scheduled to depart Los Angeles at 3:05 PM local time on October 10. However, the aircraft departed at approximately 4:00 PM, leaving nearly 55 minutes behind schedule following the earlier landing incident.
The delay did not affect its final arrival time in Germany as significantly as the late departure might have suggested. The Boeing 747-8 completed its transatlantic crossing and landed at Frankfurt Airport at approximately 10:50 AM on Sunday, October 11.
Its scheduled arrival was 11:00 AM, meaning the aircraft reached Frankfurt around 10 minutes ahead of schedule despite its delayed departure from Los Angeles.
The aircraft did not operate another flight on Sunday. Its next planned service was LH402 from Frankfurt to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), scheduled to depart at 1:20 PM on Monday, October 12.
Similar Incident
The October 2026 incident was not the first time a Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 had experienced a dramatic landing at Los Angeles International Airport.
In April 2024, another Lufthansa Boeing 747-8, registered D-ABYP, experienced a hard landing at LAX while being flown by a training pilot. The aircraft touched down heavily, bounced and appeared to bottom out its landing gear before bouncing again and performing a go-around.
The landing generated a substantial amount of tire smoke, and the aircraft required an assessment by its cockpit crew before returning to Frankfurt.
A YouTuber broadcasting the aircraft’s arrival described the touchdown as “the roughest landing we have ever caught on our broadcast.”
Lufthansa confirmed at the time that the crew needed to assess the aircraft following the landing. The incident involved a different aircraft from the one involved in the October 2026 event.
Although both incidents involved Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 aircraft at LAX and featured a go-around, the available information does not establish a connection between them. The October 2026 event involved D-ABYK, while the April 2024 incident involved D-ABYP.
What Happened to Lufthansa Flight LH456 at LAX?
Lufthansa flight LH456 performed a go-around on October 10, 2026, after its Boeing 747-8 came close to a tail strike during its initial landing attempt at Los Angeles International Airport. The aircraft climbed away from runway 24R and landed safely on its second attempt at approximately 1:33 PM local time.
The incident delayed the aircraft’s return flight, LH457, which departed Los Angeles nearly an hour late. However, the jet completed its transatlantic journey and arrived at Frankfurt Airport ahead of its scheduled arrival time on October 11.
Lufthansa confirmed that the aircraft landed normally and safely on its second attempt, describing the go-around as a standard procedure that pilots regularly practise.
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