Horror landing at Heathrow (Image: BigJetTVLIVE)
A BA plane has suffered a runway horror at Heathrow. The white-knuckle landing was caught on camera and has been shared on social media. On X, @BigJetTVLIVE said: “Caught live on our 24/7 Camera BA431 encountered a double tail strike upon landing at Heathrow Airport this morning. What happened here?”.
Footage captured by Big Jet TV appeared to show the plane’s tail striking the runway twice as the pilots attempted to land. According to The Sun, the aircraft touched down on its left-side tires before its tail struck the runway. The pilots subsequently abandoned the landing and performed a maneuver known as a “go-around”, taking the aircraft back into the air before making another approach.
The newspaper reported that screams were heard from passengers on board the aircraft, which can carry up to 220 people, as the incident unfolded at around 11am. Passengers were also said to have lurched forward in their seats during the frightening landing attempt.
A source told The Sun: “This is most irregular. There were screams. No-one knew what was happening.”
The source described the incident as extremely rare, adding: “An investigation will get to the bottom of what happened.”
The Airbus A321neo had been arriving at Heathrow on Thursday morning (November 12) following a flight lasting around one hour and 35 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Caught live on our 24/7 Camera BA431 encountered a double tail strike upon landing at Heathrow Airport this morning. What happened here? #aviation #avgeek https://t.co/NRUY3r9GfL
— BIG JET TV (@BigJetTVLIVE) November 12, 2026
According to aviation website Paddle Your Own Kanoo, the aircraft landed safely on its second attempt, with passengers disembarking as normal.
The plane has since been taken out of service for maintenance inspections, with a provisional return to service scheduled for November 14, depending on the extent of any damage.
Investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have reportedly been called in to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A British Airways spokesperson told Paddle Your Own Kanoo: “The aircraft landed safely, and we’re assisting the AAIB with its investigation and are legally unable to comment further at this stage.”
The aircraft, registered G-TNEB, had started its day at Heathrow before flying to Amsterdam and returning to London.
It had been scheduled to operate several further flights that day, but those plans were disrupted following the landing incident.
A British Airways Airbus A321neo at Heathrow Airport, where a plane suffered a double tail strike (f (Image: PA)
Tail strikes can cause significant damage to aircraft, potentially requiring extensive repairs, although it remains unclear whether the British Airways jet sustained any damage.
The Express has contacted British Airways for comment.
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