Why Did a Singapore Airlines A350 Suffer a Tail Strike at Changi Airport?

A Singapore Airlines (SIA) Airbus A350 sustained tail damage at Changi Airport (SIN) on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The incident occurred during an aborted landing maneuver. The aircraft, an A350-900 operating flight SQ917 from Manila to Singapore, made contact with the runway surface.

Incident Details

The Airbus A350-900 was attempting to land at approximately 6:07 PM local time. The flight crew initiated a "rejected landing," or go-around, from a low altitude. An SIA spokesperson confirmed the maneuver was due to prevailing windy conditions at the airport.

During the transition to climb, the rear fuselage of the aircraft struck the runway. This event is known in aviation as a tail strike. Despite the impact, the crew successfully executed the go-around. They climbed to a holding altitude of 4,000 feet to conduct safety checks. The aircraft then performed a second approach and landed safely about 25 minutes later. All 256 passengers and 16 crew members disembarked normally, with no injuries reported.

Aircraft Status and Damage

The SIA spokesperson confirmed the Airbus A350 is currently grounded for repairs. Images circulating online showed visible scrape marks on the underside of the tail section. The damage reportedly included structural scrape marks and the dislodgement of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) exhaust fairing.

Tail strike incidents, while rare, can require extensive and costly structural inspections. Repairs often involve complex composite material work, keeping the aircraft out of service for an extended period.

Aviation Safety and Operational Impact

This incident highlights the challenges of low-altitude go-arounds, especially in complex wind environments. A go-around is a standard safety procedure. It is initiated when a landing approach is not stable or safe to continue. However, the maneuver requires precise pitch control to prevent the tail from contacting the runway.

The Airbus A350 is equipped with systems like pitch limit indicators. These features are designed to help pilots maintain awareness of pitch limits. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the flight crew's technique and timely decision-making.

Operational Impact: The unscheduled grounding of the widebody aircraft adds to operational complexity. The aviation industry is currently facing constraints on widebody aircraft availability. This is due to production delays and maintenance cycles. The loss of the A350 from SIA's active fleet will necessitate schedule adjustments. It also increases maintenance costs for the airline.

Singapore Airlines stated it is cooperating with relevant authorities on the investigation. The goal is to determine the exact factors that contributed to the tail strike during the go-around.

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