A British Airways A321neo sustained a tail strike at London Heathrow on 12 November 2026 after the crew initiated a go-around following touchdown on runway 27L, with the aircraft's tail contacting the runway surface during the manoeuvre.
What Happened on Flight BA431
Avherald.com reported that the British Airways Airbus A321-200N registered G-TNEB was operating flight BA431 from Amsterdam to London Heathrow when the incident occurred. The aircraft was on approach to runway 27L at 10:35 UTC when the crew went around after touchdown, and the tail made contact with the runway surface.
Flightradar24 data shows the aircraft departed Amsterdam (EHAM) at 09:45 UTC. It reached a peak altitude of approximately 24,000 feet during the crossing, well below a typical cruising level for the route, suggesting a relatively short climb profile for the brief hop. The flight ultimately landed at 10:50 UTC, one hour and five minutes after take-off.
The British Airways A321neo Go-Around and Tail Contact
A tail strike during a go-around is a recognised risk when an aircraft that has already touched down pitches nose-up rapidly. Avherald.com reported that the tail contacted the runway surface as the crew executed the manoeuvre. The precise circumstances that led the crew to go around after touchdown are not yet known, and no authority has yet stated a cause. We will not speculate on one here.
Simple Flying reported that British Airways grounded the aircraft following the incident. That is standard procedure after a tail strike: the airframe requires a full structural inspection before it can return to service.
What Comes Next
Tail strikes can range from superficial scuffing of the tail skid to more significant structural damage requiring repair before the aircraft is cleared to fly again. The extent of any damage to G-TNEB has not been confirmed by British Airways or any regulatory authority at this stage.
Readers wanting to track the aircraft or follow its return to service can use our Aircraft Search tool. All confirmed aviation incidents, including this one, are logged in our Squawk 7700 hub, our live emergency board and incident archive. As we noted in our London Heathrow Airport Guide, the airport handles some of the highest traffic volumes in Europe, and incidents on its runways draw close attention from the regulator.
The Bottom Line
A British Airways A321neo is on the ground at Heathrow after a tail strike during a go-around on 12 November 2026. The aircraft has been grounded pending inspection, and no authority has yet confirmed the extent of the damage or opened a formal investigation. We will update this article if British Airways or investigators release further information.
This article draws on reporting by aeroinside and Simple Flying and flight data from Flightradar24.
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