An American Airlines Airbus A321-200 aircraft suffered a tail impact while landing at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) on Monday evening, June 9, 2025. The aircraft, operating flight AA1894 from Raleigh-Durham (RDU), was able to autonomously exit the runway and taxi to the departure gate after the incident.
All passengers were able to disembark the aircraft safely, and no injuries were reported. The aircraft involved has been parked in Charlotte since the incident and is currently being inspected by experts and prepared for necessary repairs. The incident, the cause of which is still under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), once again highlights the importance of precise landing procedures in aviation.
Details of the incident and the affected machine
The incident occurred as American Airlines Flight AA1894, a short-haul flight from Raleigh-Durham to Charlotte, departed for its final flight of the day at 19:07 p.m. local time. Although the two cities are only about two hours apart by road, the approximately 30-minute flight serves as a critical feeder route for American Airlines to its Charlotte hub. The airline operates up to ten daily flights in both directions on this route, typically using A321-200 aircraft to ensure hub connectivity.
The aircraft involved, with the registration N167AN, is an Airbus A321-200, delivered to American Airlines in 2016. It is a particularly distinctive member of the fleet, as it bears a special livery dedicated to recipients of the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for military valor. This special livery was applied in 2022, and the aircraft has since participated in various celebratory events, including the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. QR codes are also installed on board the aircraft, providing passengers with access to information about the Medal of Honor and its recipients, thus serving as a mobile educational tool to share the stories of these highly decorated individuals.
The specific incident occurred during the approach to runway 18L at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. During touchdown, the rear of the aircraft's fuselage made hard contact with the runway surface, damaging the "strike plate," a protective plate at the rear of the aircraft. Despite the impact, the aircraft was able to roll out without further incident and taxi independently to the departure gate, where the passengers disembarked safely. The crew immediately notified air traffic control of the incident, which initiated the necessary safety measures.
Charlotte's operational relevance and hub function
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of American Airlines' largest and most important hubs. The airline uses Charlotte as a central hub for flights to the eastern United States and international destinations. The efficiency and safety of operations at this hub are therefore of utmost importance to American Airlines' overall flight operations. Feeder flights like the one from Raleigh-Durham are essential for bringing passengers from smaller cities to this hub and connecting them to a more extensive network.
The fact that the A321-200 had already completed five flights on Monday before the incident underscores the intensive use of these aircraft in daily scheduled operations. Every aircraft is subject to a rigorous maintenance schedule, and incidents such as a tail strike require immediate removal from service for thorough inspection to ensure airworthiness and passenger safety. The fact that the aircraft remained in Charlotte after the incident indicates that the necessary repairs and inspections will be carried out on-site to return the aircraft to service as quickly as possible, unless serious structural damage is detected.
Cause research: How rear impacts occur
Tail strikes are not common occurrences in aviation, but they occur in significant numbers worldwide each year. The majority of these incidents occur during the landing phase, but they can also occur during takeoff or during a go-around landing attempt. The main causes of tail strikes are often pilot error, with various factors playing a role:
- Aggressive Flare (Interception): The "bump" is the final maneuver before touchdown, during which the pilot slightly raises the nose of the aircraft to reduce the rate of descent and facilitate a smooth landing. If the nose is raised too much or too early, the angle of attack can become too high, causing the tail of the aircraft to touch the ground before the main landing gear fully touches down.
- Overrotation: This occurs when the pilot pitches the aircraft too sharply into the nose-up position during a go-around maneuver or immediately after touchdown. This can also lead to tail contact with the runway.
- Incorrect crosswind correction: When landing in crosswind conditions, pilots must use special techniques to keep the aircraft on course. Improper use of the ailerons or inadequate compensation for crosswinds can lead to an increased sink rate, which can contribute to a tail strike, especially in turbulent conditions.
- Unstable approach: An approach is considered unstable if the aircraft's speed, altitude, and configuration are outside the specified parameters. An approach that is too fast, too high, or inadequately configured may force the pilot to make aggressive corrections, increasing the risk of a tail strike.
- Wind shear or turbulence: Although less frequently directly attributable to pilot error, sudden changes in wind direction or speed (wind shear) as well as severe turbulence during the critical landing maneuver can cause the aircraft to descend uncontrollably and suffer a tail strike.
More than three-quarters of aircraft that suffer a tail impact require costly and time-consuming repairs. These thorough inspections and repairs are critical to the safety of passengers and crew. Perhaps the most well-known tragic example of the consequences of a poorly repaired tail impact is the case of Japan Airlines Flight 123 in 1985. An incorrectly repaired tail impact that occurred seven years earlier resulted in an explosive decompression of the aircraft in mid-air, claiming the lives of 520 people. The aviation industry has learned far-reaching lessons from this incident and has significantly tightened safety standards for inspection and repair after such events. American Airlines will therefore ensure that N167AN is carefully repaired to the highest standards and comprehensively tested at its Charlotte hub before it is allowed to return to active flight service. The FAA investigation will determine the exact cause and identify possible measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Flagship Valor”: A monument in the fleet
The aircraft in question, N167AN, is notable not only from an operational perspective but also for its special significance within the American Airlines fleet. Named "Flagship Valor," the aircraft was painted in 2022 with a unique special livery honoring recipients of the Medal of Honor. This medal is the highest military award for valor that a member of the United States Armed Forces can receive in combat.
The A321's livery features the three variants of the medal arranged horizontally next to the title "Flagship Valor." This is complemented by silhouettes symbolizing the seven major military conflicts in which the medal has been awarded since its creation. This visual representation serves not only as recognition but also as an educational tool to spread the extraordinary stories of the medal's recipients.
The "Flagship Valor" was unveiled at the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, which will open its doors to visitors for the first time in early 2025. This special livery joins a long list of special liveries in American Airlines' history. Among the most well-known are the so-called "retro jets," which bear the historic liveries of former airlines that have merged into American Airlines over time. These include liveries of TWA, US Airways, America West, AirCal, PSA, and Allegheny Airlines. These special aircraft serve not only as a tribute to aviation history but also as a visible symbol of an airline's identity and values. The retirement of the "Flagship Valor" for repairs is therefore not only an operational but also a symbolic matter for American Airlines and the veteran community.
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