Key Points:

  • An ATR 72-600 operated by Azul Linhas Aereas, featuring the Brazilian flag livery, encountered a tail strike during its landing in Recife, Brazil, on November 22.

  • Following the incident, the aircraft successfully completed its landing, but subsequent flights had to be canceled, and the aircraft was grounded.

  • A video capturing the incident surfaced on YouTube, drawing attention to the tail strike event.


Tail Strike Incident on Azul Linhas Aereas Flight

On November 22, a domestic flight operated by Azul Linhas Aereas, using an ATR 72-600 aircraft registered as PR-AKO and adorned with the Brazilian flag livery, experienced a tail strike while landing at Recife airport. The flight, which originated from Aracaju, encountered difficulties during its descent, resulting in the aircraft's tail making contact with the runway. This type of incident, while not common, can occur under certain circumstances during landing.

Despite the tail strike, the aircraft managed to complete its landing procedure safely, ensuring the well-being of all passengers and crew on board. However, the incident had operational repercussions for the airline. Due to the need for inspections and potential repairs following the tail strike, Azul Linhas Aereas was compelled to cancel the aircraft's subsequent flight and temporarily ground the plane for further assessment and maintenance.

Social Media Captures the Incident

The tail strike event quickly garnered attention beyond the airport, as a video capturing the incident was uploaded to the video streaming platform YouTube. The footage provided viewers with a visual account of the moment the aircraft's tail struck the runway at Recife airport. The video's circulation on social media highlighted the incident, bringing it to the attention of a wider audience and underscoring the challenges and unexpected events that can occur in aviation.