Lufthansa 747-8 Avoids Tail Strike at LAX During Landing Attempt

Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Incident at LAX

Lufthansa flight LH456, a Boeing 747-8 from Frankfurt, experienced a near tail strike incident on 10 October 2026 during its approach to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The widebody aircraft, registered D-ABYK, was forced to perform a go-around after its tail came within inches of the runway surface.

Following the aborted landing, the quadjet successfully touched down on its second attempt, approximately 15 minutes behind its scheduled arrival time of 1:18 PM local time, according to Flightradar24 data.

The incident, which was captured on a planespotting livestream, involved a manoeuvre where the aircraft pitched sharply upwards during the initial touchdown phase on runway 24R.

Airline Confirms Standard Procedure

A Lufthansa spokesperson confirmed that flight LH456 performed a go-around on 10 October while approaching Los Angeles, landing normally and safely on its second attempt. The airline stated that this is a standard, well-rehearsed procedure, with safety remaining a top priority.

The aircraft involved, D-ABYK, is 13.22 years old, having first flown in July 2013 and delivered to Lufthansa the following month, according to ch-aviation. It is configured with 244 economy, 32 premium economy, 80 business, and eight first class seats.

Despite the close call, the aircraft did not sustain any damage that would necessitate its removal from service for inspection or repairs.

Subsequent Flight Delays and Previous Incidents

Although the aircraft was undamaged, its subsequent return flight to Frankfurt, LH457, departed from LAX almost an hour behind schedule on 10 October, taking off at 4:00 PM local time instead of 3:05 PM. However, the flight managed to recover this delay during its transatlantic crossing, arriving in Frankfurt at 10:50 AM on 11 October, just ahead of its planned 11:00 AM arrival.

This is not the first instance of a Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 experiencing a challenging landing at LAX; a similar incident involving D-ABYP occurred in April 2024, where that aircraft made a very hard landing, bottoming out its landing gear before performing a go-around.

Global Aviation Safety and Asian Operations

The incident shows the critical nature of precise landing procedures for large aircraft, particularly widebody jets like the Boeing 747-8. While go-arounds are standard safety manoeuvres, those initiated close to the ground carry higher risks.

For Asian carriers operating extensive long-haul networks with similar widebody fleets, such as Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and ANA, adherence to rigorous pilot training and operational safety protocols is paramount.

These airlines routinely conduct comprehensive training for their crews to manage complex landing scenarios and unexpected events, ensuring passenger safety remains the highest priority across global operations. The prompt and safe resolution of the Lufthansa incident demonstrates the effectiveness of these well-established safety measures.