The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been called in after a British Airways Airbus A321neo suffered a double tailstrike while attempting to land at London Heathrow (LHR) on 12 November 2026. The aircraft, registered G-TNEB, completed a go-around before landing safely on its second approach.
The aircraft was operating a British Airways service from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Heathrow. It had begun the day at Heathrow with a flight to Amsterdam and was returning to the UK when the incident occurred. British Airways has taken the aircraft out of service and said it is assisting the investigators.
Aircraft withdrawn from operation
During the first landing attempt, the rear of the A321neo contacted the runway twice. The pilots then became airborne again and repositioned for another approach. The subsequent landing was completed without a further reported incident.
| Operator | Aircraft | Registration | Service | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | Airbus A321neo | G-TNEB | Amsterdam Schiphol to London Heathrow | Go-around followed by safe landing |
Footage of the attempted landing was captured by Big Jet TV, the aviation video channel operated by Jerry Dyer. The recording showed the aircraft’s tail making contact with the runway before the go-around. The footage has drawn attention to the event, but the circumstances surrounding it will be established through the formal investigation rather than through video commentary or public reaction.
“What happened here?” — Big Jet TV
Investigation under way
The AAIB’s involvement means the incident will be examined by the UK’s specialist air accident investigation body. No finding on the circumstances or contributing factors has been published. It would therefore be premature to attribute the tailstrike to a particular action, technical issue, weather condition or other cause.
The A321neo is the new-generation version of Airbus’s A321 single-aisle aircraft and forms part of British Airways’ short- and medium-haul fleet. The aircraft involved was described as two years old. Its withdrawal means that British Airways will need to assess the aircraft before it can return to scheduled flying, while the AAIB gathers the information required for its investigation.
- The incident occurred during an attempted landing at London Heathrow on 12 November.
- The Airbus A321neo struck its tail twice before the pilots performed a go-around.
- The aircraft landed safely on the second attempt and has been removed from service while the AAIB examines the event.
The aircraft’s passengers were able to complete the landing after the second approach. The AAIB’s investigation will determine what further information can be released and whether any operational or technical findings require action.
