An Airbus A320 belonging to the airline Eurowings Europe briefly touched the runway during an aborted approach to Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport this Friday.
According to initial information, the tail of the aircraft touched down during the go-around maneuver. Flight EW 6838 originated from Palma de Mallorca. After a second approach, the aircraft, registration number 9H-EUT, landed safely in Paderborn.
Dip on final approach led to go-around
According to passengers, the A320 initially dipped during final approach to Paderborn, prompting the pilots to abort the landing and attempt a go-around. During this maneuver, which was intended to make another approach for landing at a safe altitude, the tail of the aircraft touched the runway, a so-called tailstrike.
A tailstrike can occur when the aircraft's angle of attack becomes too high during takeoff or landing, causing the tail of the fuselage to touch the runway. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including incorrect trim settings, rotating too early or too sharply during takeoff, or even an unusual attitude during landing. Although modern aircraft may have a tailskid or sensors to prevent tailstrikes or minimize contact, such events can still occur.
Safe landing on the second attempt
After the go-around maneuver, the crew conducted a second approach to Paderborn, which this time proceeded without further incident. The Airbus A320 landed safely at the airport. It was not immediately known whether the aircraft sustained any damage when it touched the runway. In such cases, aircraft are typically subjected to a thorough inspection before returning to flight operations.
Air traffic control or the relevant aviation authority will likely initiate an investigation into the incident to determine the exact circumstances of the aborted approach and tailstrike. Such investigations will serve to ensure continued air safety and, if necessary, make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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