British Airways flight performs go-around after tail strike at Heathrow Airport

A British Airways Airbus A321neo, operating flight BA431 from Amsterdam to London, experienced a tail strike during its landing attempt at Heathrow Airport on the morning of November 12, 2026. Footage captured around 10:34 am shows the aircraft’s tail appearing to touch the runway surface twice as the nose pitched up, prompting the pilots to initiate a go-around, a standard safety procedure used to abort a landing.

Following the incident, the crew successfully circled the airport and landed the aircraft safely. British Airways has launched an official investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event. The airline is currently cooperating with the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to evaluate the condition of the aircraft, as protocols typically mandate a thorough inspection for any structural damage before such an aircraft is cleared for subsequent flights.