AviationNews – Cathay Pacific has officially grounded one of its flagship Airbus A350-1000 aircraft following a confirmed tail strike incident at Hong Kong International Airport. The event, which took place during a scheduled arrival from Ho Chi Minh City, occurred as the pilots initiated a go-around maneuver on Runway 07C, necessitating an immediate withdrawal of the jet from commercial service for safety checks.
The incident highlights the operational complexities of modern widebody flying. Following the aborted landing, the aircraft was taxied to the hangar where it was met by the airline’s engineering team. Tail strikes on long-fuselage aircraft like the A350-1000 can cause significant structural stress, and Cathay Pacific has initiated a comprehensive structural inspection protocol. The aircraft remains grounded in Hong Kong while technicians assess the severity of the scrape and determine the necessary scope of repairs.
Technically, a tail strike during a go-around occurs when the pilot raises the nose of the aircraft too aggressively while the engines spool up to climb power. On stretched variants like the A350-1000, the margin for error in pitch attitude is smaller than on shorter jets. The impact can damage the rear pressure bulkhead or the skin of the fuselage. The current focus of the maintenance team is to verify that no internal structural components were compromised, ensuring the airworthiness of the airframe before it carries passengers again.
“Operational safety protocols dictate that any contact between the airframe and the runway requires a thorough assessment,” stated an industry safety analyst regarding standard procedures. “While a go-around is a fundamental safety maneuver designed to discontinue an unstable approach, the energy management during that transition is critical. Cathay Pacific’s swift decision to ground the aircraft for repairs underscores the industry’s zero-tolerance approach to potential structural risks.”
Looking ahead, the aircraft will undergo rigorous testing following the completion of repairs. This incident serves as a crucial data point for flight operations departments worldwide regarding go-around execution on long-body aircraft. The airline is expected to reintegrate the jet into its schedule only after it meets all manufacturer and regulatory safety standards.
Cathay Pacific continues to prioritize the safety of its passengers and crew as the engineering team works to resolve the issue. The swift response ensures that the operational integrity of the fleet is maintained while lessons from the Runway 07C incident are analyzed.
