
Severe tail strike on China Southern Airlines: Safety questions about manual landing
On October 21, 2024, a China Southern Airlines aircraft, a Boeing 787-9, experienced a significant tail strike while approaching Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. This incident raises questions about the safety and accuracy of manual landing maneuvers. According to passenger reports, the aircraft first touched down hard, took off again briefly, and then hit the runway again. Fortunately, passengers and crew were uninjured, but the aircraft, with registration number B-1243, suffered significant damage to the lower fuselage and cargo hold structure. Course of the incident: A daring landing experiment ends dramatically As local reports and information from the aviation data portal Flightradar24 show, the co-pilot of flight CZ3534 decided to conduct a manual landing exercise "without guidance" and navigation aids. The experienced flight instructor, who was also in the cockpit, approved this attempt in view of the stable weather conditions. During the approach, after the autopilot had been deactivated, the aircraft initially remained stable. However, at a critical distance from the runway, the rate of descent increased unexpectedly and, despite the flight instructor's last-minute intervention, it was no longer possible to prevent a severe impact. This sequence ultimately led to the dangerous tail impact. Damage and its consequences After landing, the aircraft's internal warning system reported a tail strike and, after inspections, ground technicians confirmed damage to the lower fuselage skin, including scratches and a crack. The internal structure of the cargo hold was also fractured and deformed by the impact. This damage, which particularly affects the stability of the aircraft, is so extensive that the aircraft concerned will remain out of service until further notice. Since the incident took place at China Southern Airlines' home airport,