DHL Cargo A300 "Scrapes" Heathrow Runway

A300 Cargo of DHL

On October 12, 2025, London Heathrow (LHR) airport was the scene of a highly visible flight incident, where the A300 Cargo of DHL highlighted the importance of a stable approach and the professionalism of crews when facing an unexpected emergency.

The aircraft involved was a DHL (operated by EAT Leipzig) Airbus A300-600F cargo jet, registered D-AEAG, operating flight QY2212 from Leipzig (LEJ).

The Incident Sequence on 09L

The tail strike occurred during the landing attempt on runway 09L. Video footage of the event, which quickly went viral, clearly shows that the approach was already unstable.

1. Unstable Approach: The aircraft showed an abnormal attitude and a lateral oscillation ("wobble") in the final phase, a factor that often precedes hard landings.

2. Contact and Bounce: On first contact with the runway, the A300 experienced a clear bounce.

3. The Tail Strike: In an attempt to correct the attitude after the bounce—or due to an excessive nose-up pitch during the application of thrust for the go-around—the lower rear fuselage violently impacted the runway concrete.

4. The Go-Around: The pilots promptly executed a "go-around" manoeuvre, resuming flight. This was a critical moment: although the damage had already occurred, their decision not to proceed with the landing averted a much worse outcome.

Operational Consequences and Investigation

Despite the damage sustained to the tail, the crew managed to perform a traffic circuit and make a safe and uneventful landing on runway 09R about 20 minutes after the first attempt.

• Runway Closure: Runway 09L was temporarily closed to allow for a surface inspection for debris or damage. This led to significant delays for departing and arriving traffic at one of the world's busiest airports.

• Preliminary Analysis: Initial analysis of data and footage (including the viral video) suggests that the main cause is likely an pilot error (pilot-induced oscillation) and excessive and late action on the controls, rather than adverse weather conditions, which were relatively calm that day.

The incident is now under investigation by the relevant aviation authorities to establish the exact dynamics and responsibilities. These events, though rare, are crucial for the review of procedures and the training of flight crews.

Stay tuned for further updates on this and other air safety news.