A321 TOGA and Tail Strike!

Our feed is always around 20 seconds out after we hit the ‘go live’ button (quite a bit more complexed than that). But as we started the feed, this A321neo from Aberdeen was on approach so we went for it. But the feed went ‘live’ to the viewers as the jet was climbing-out. So here it is! A full-on Touch and go, with a tail strike - checkout the paint dust after contact! You can also see the empennage shaking as it drags.
I thought the pilot had it, but the wind was swirling over the Office buildings on the Bath Road. And there’s a gap between the open reach building and the next set of office buildings, which allows the gusts to flow unrestricted across the runway.
In my view, the pilot deserves a medal! @BritishAirways training could use this in a scenario - happy to supply the footage FOC chaps 😉 but seriously, well done that Pilot.
I have to say, I had no chance to watch it back during the live, but Gilly had a quick look and called Tail Strike. I knew it was close, but due to the small monitor and being ‘in the moment’ I missed the tail drag. So good spot GP.
This has to go down as one of our best moments, just a shame we were 20 seconds late. Still, here’s how it’s played-out
#avgeek #aviation #planespotting #tailstrike #jetblast

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[giacomopelos]

let's get a moment to appreciate the power of those engines

[lancedatl]

WOW! That was nerve wracking to watch, especially seeing them struggle to execute the go around. Never seen a plane suddenly swing sideways like that with both wheels on the ground.

[ShinyHelmet]

Just shows how the wind can suddenly bite even when it looks like the aircraft is making a smooth landing. Amazing that they were able to literally power out of it and get flying again.

[stw]

You’re a legend mate, absolute legend, the Murray Walker of aircraft landings and take offs

[meandmyvanandmydogandmybik]

OH MY GOD. GILLY!!! 😆😆😆😆😆 that was a proper brown trouser moment, but we’ll done to the pilot 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[ConorMadden]

I'd say an excellent job by the crew and an unfortunate situation leading to the tail strike. My guess as to what happened:

1: Stable approach over the threshold and right wing dipped to counteract being blown across the runway after decrabbing (standard)

2: Initial bounce on one wheel leads to a heavy touch down on both. Go around probably called at heavy touch down in anticipation of another bounce. Spoilers start to deploy but as soon as TOGA is selected, they auto retract.

3: A gust hits the aircraft at the worst moment, catching and lifting the now spoiler free wings. Although TOGA has been selected, the relatively long spool up time means there is a few second lag between idle at the flare and full commanded thrust.

4: The second the wing lifts, you can see an immediate right roll command, and with the thrust kicking in, and workload incredibly high and capacity low, it would be incredibly easy to prioritise getting away, and forgetting you're in the tailstrike prone A321, and not the 319/20 you'd been flying the day before.

Just my two cents, but I'd say the worst part of this crews day was the rotten luck in having the event filmed 🤣

[chrisnyc]

This clip just made the national news in the US - good capture Jerry!!!

[dmmchugh]

I don't know which was more exciting: the tail strike /side bounce / go around or the spine-tingling commentary!

[simonhutchings]

Massive respect to the pilot for keeping control and getting the Airbus back in the. Air 👌

[Payneview]

Wow, that was a close call but the pilot(s) pulled it off and prevented it being a disaster. Congratulations to them. I can imagine the passengers starting to clap when it landed but then whoops. I hope nobody was toppled over in the cabin or had any overhead contents dumped on them. A bit of wild ride there but rescued form worse. Phew.

[IMJ]

Damn would definitely not want to have been a passenger on that plane. Crazy landing. Well done to the pilot for getting it back up in the air great skills. Well done to Jerry/Gilly for capturing that footage

[MobilMobil-kvke]

Blancoliro channel had a link to this video. I am now subscribing here!

You are creating important content for the aviation community. Thanks for that.

[blancolirio]

That was UGLY!
Thanks for posting Jerry!
Note the spoilers....

[thetransaction.]

Yet again BIGJET TV is on point to bring us the best coverage of aviation 👍👍👌👏👏
Thank you and Well done Jerry and all the team

[richardlovely]

Wow that wind can be devastating. God bless these pilots, it certainly can't be easy!

[rabh]

That was scary, glad the outcome was a good one👍 What a start to the show😮

[stubby]

Wow what a catch that was Jerry. Props to the Pilot for the save and getting her back up safely for the go around. Massive skill to save that left handed lurch right at the last. This is why Windy arrivals are my Favorite, Getting to witness the skill of the Pilot.

[robgardner]

Great camera work. Thank goodness the pilot regained control.

[sfb]

Wow, great spot J&G and what a recovery by the pilot. Amazing footage.

[audreyp]

Makes me laugh how some people post comments here criticising rudely other REAL pilots views of the incident from years of experience. Great capture btw Big Jet TV!