A dramatic moment unfolded at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) on Sunday when a Kalitta Air Boeing 777-300ER freighter scraped its tail on the runway during an attempted landing, sending a shower of sparks into the air before the crew successfully executed a go-around.
The aircraft, operating Flight K4-264 from Brussels, Belgium, touched down on Runway 36R at approximately 7:52 p.m. local time. As the crew decided to abort the landing and initiate a go-around, the aircraft’s tail made contact with the runway, creating a spectacular trail of sparks captured on video by witnesses near the airport.
Air traffic controllers immediately informed the crew that there had “definitely been a tail strike on rotation.” Despite the incident, the Boeing 777 climbed safely to 4,000 feet, entered a holding pattern, and lined up for a second approach. About 25 minutes later, the freighter landed safely on Runway 36C without any further issues.
Kalitta Air Chief Operating Officer Heath Nicholl confirmed the aircraft experienced a “tail skid” during the go-around. He stated that the crew completed the flight safely, no injuries were reported, and the aircraft has been removed from service for a thorough inspection and evaluation.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that Flight 264 landed safely around 8:15 p.m. local time after the tail of the Boeing 777-300ER scraped the runway during the aborted landing. The agency has opened an investigation to determine exactly what led to the runway contact.
More than a day after the incident, the aircraft remained grounded in Cincinnati while maintenance teams carried out inspections. Tail strikes are relatively uncommon but can cause significant structural damage, making detailed inspections essential before an aircraft is cleared to fly again.
Fortunately, the experienced flight crew handled the situation professionally, preventing what could have become a far more serious incident.
