TAIPEI- An EVA Air (BR) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner suffered a tail strike during a go-around at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) on October 4, 2025. The aircraft was operating flight BR-711 from Shanghai Pudong (PVG) when the incident occurred.
The jet, registered B-17881, briefly touched down before its tail contacted the runway surface and then climbed away. It later landed safely at Songshan with no injuries reported among passengers or crew.
Photo: By Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK – Boeing 787-9 ‘B-17882’ EVA Air, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80663535Eva Air 787 Tail Strike
According to flight data, the EVA Air Boeing 787-9 was on short final when the pilots initiated a go-around at a very low altitude. During this maneuver, the main landing gear made light contact with the runway, leading to a tail scrape.
The crew then climbed to approximately 3,000 feet, circled the area, and completed a safe landing about 15 minutes later.
EVA Air confirmed that the incident resulted in minor damage to the aircraft’s tail strike protection system.
The protective strip will be replaced, and maintenance teams will conduct a detailed inspection before the jet returns to service. The airline emphasized that no passengers or crew members were injured and that safety protocols were followed throughout.
The Dreamliner remains grounded at Taipei Songshan Airport for inspection as of the latest available data from Flightradar24.
Photo: By blackqualis from Kawasaki, Japan – EVA AIR’s Dream Liner B787-9, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77853346Understanding Tail Strike Risks
Tail strikes typically occur when an aircraft’s tail contacts the runway during takeoff or landing, often due to pitch angle misjudgment or sudden flight adjustments.
Although rare, they require thorough examination since the impact can stress the aircraft’s fuselage structure.
Modern jets like the Boeing 787-9 are equipped with tail strike protection systems that help absorb and minimize damage during such incidents. Even with these safety features, operators must carry out complete post-incident checks before clearing the aircraft for future operations.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalSimilar Incident
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended IndiGo (6E) pilots following a tail strike incident involving flight 6E6054 at Delhi Airport (DEL) on September 9, 2024. The Airbus A321neo, registered as VT-IBI, was operating a scheduled service to Bengaluru (BLR) when the event occurred.
The aircraft has remained grounded since the incident as the aviation regulator investigates. DGCA has not yet disclosed the duration of the suspension for the flight crew.
DGCA Investigates Tail Strike
A preliminary report shows that DGCA issued show-cause notices to both the pilot-in-command and the co-pilot of IndiGo flight 6E6054. According to PYOK, the suspension will remain in place until the regulator completes its inquiry and determines accountability for the tail strike.
The Airbus A321neo, a stretched variant of the A320 family, is more prone to tail strikes if pitch angles are not closely monitored during takeoff or landing. Following the Delhi incident, the aircraft VT-IBI was inspected and grounded for safety checks, extending the disruption for over a week.
This is not an isolated event. In 2023, DGCA imposed a Rs 30 lakh penalty on IndiGo after four separate tail strike incidents involving the airline’s A321 fleet between January and June. Those cases occurred at various airports during both takeoff and landing phases, prompting the regulator to tighten its scrutiny of the airline’s operating procedures and pilot training programs.
Photo: Raihan AhmedPrevious Disciplinary Actions by DGCA
DGCA had taken similar action last year after a tail strike at Ahmedabad Airport (AMD). In that case, the pilot-in-command faced a three-month suspension, while the co-pilot was suspended for one month.
The regulator cited inadequate adherence to standard operating procedures during rotation and landing phases.
These repeated incidents have intensified discussions on the importance of enhanced simulator training for pilots operating the A321neo, which has a longer fuselage and smaller rotation margin than the A320.
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