A LATAM Brasil Boeing 777-32W(ER) experienced a tail strike during takeoff from Milan Malpensa Airport on July 9, 2024, prompting the flight crew to return to the airport after dumping fuel.
Flight LA-8073, bound for São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport in Brazil, departed from runway 35L at approximately 1:26 p.m. local time.
During rotation, the aircraft’s tail made contact with the runway surface for seconds, leaving a cloud of dust visible to observers, based on a CCTV footage uploaded on YouTube.
Despite the incident, the Boeing 777, registered as PT-MUG, continued its climb to 5,000 feet before entering a holding pattern. The flight crew then ascended to 6,000 feet to begin fuel dumping procedures, a standard safety measure to reduce the aircraft’s weight for landing.
After circling for about an hour, the aircraft made a safe landing on runway 35R at Milan Malpensa Airport at approximately 2:37 p.m., roughly 75 minutes after its initial departure.
The aircraft involved in the incident is 11.8 years old and configured to carry 410 passengers in a three-class layout. As of July 11, the plane remains grounded at Milan Malpensa Airport for inspection and potential repairs.
Tail strikes, while not uncommon in aviation, are more frequently observed during landing operations. The occurrence during takeoff under seemingly routine conditions has raised questions about potential contributing factors, such as miscalculated takeoff performance or unexpected wind conditions.
Aviation authorities and LATAM Airlines are expected to investigate the incident to determine its cause and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
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