A transatlantic-bound flight was forced to return to its departure airport after the aircraft’s tail struck the runway during takeoff.
On March 12th 2026, an American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N120EE, operating flight AA-870 from Queen Beatrix International Airport to Philadelphia, began its takeoff roll from runway 11 at 13:55 local time (17:55 UTC).
During the rotation for liftoff, the aircraft’s tail contacted the runway surface and remained in contact for several seconds before the aircraft climbed away. After becoming airborne, the crew leveled the aircraft at about 4,000 feet and assessed the situation.
To reduce the aircraft’s landing weight, the pilots entered a holding pattern to burn off fuel while preparing for a return to Aruba. After completing the necessary procedures, the aircraft returned and landed safely back on runway 11 approximately two hours and twenty minutes after departure.
Tailstrikes occur when the rear underside of an aircraft touches the runway during takeoff or landing, often due to excessive pitch during rotation or flare. Such events require careful inspection because structural components at the rear of the fuselage can sustain damage.
Following the incident, the aircraft remained on the ground in Aruba about 48 hours after landing while engineers carried out inspections and assessed the extent of any structural damage.
