Malta B38M at Malta on Apr 13th 2023, suspected tailstrike on departure

Last Update: January 7, 2026 / 17:46:53 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Apr 13, 2023

Classification
Incident

Airline
Air Malta

Flight number
FR-96757

Departure
Malta, Malta

Destination
Riga, Latvia

Aircraft Registration
9H-VVH

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800MAX

ICAO Type Designator
B38M

Airport
Luqa Airport, Luqa

Airport ICAO Code
LMML

An Malta Air Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration 9H-VVH performing flight FR-96757 from Malta (Malta) to Riga (Latvia) with 191 people on board, was climbing out of Malta's runway 31 when the crew stopped the climb at 6000 feet advising they suspected a tail strike. The crew advised, no assistance was needed, they wanted to run checklists and hold to burn off fuel and return to Malta. While holding the crew requested a runway inspection. Following the runway inspection services reported nothing had been found. The crew subsequently reported they did have a suspected tail strike on departure and now needed to hold for about 90 minutes to burn fuel. The aircraft landed safely back on runway 31 about 100 minutes after departure.

The aircraft was still on the ground about 3 hours after landing back.

Malta's BAAI released their preliminary report as final report stating, that no investigation was needed and the investigation therefore was discontinued.

The BAAI summarized the sequence of events:

The aircraft suffered a tail strike on rotation during take-off from RWY 31. The crew reported that they continued the take-off and climbed to 5,500 ft before joining the hold at TIVOR (IAF RWY 31) to burn fuel and returning to land on RWY 31. The aircraft landed 38 minutes after take-off without further incident.

The weather report provided by the airline to the crew prior to departure was:

SA 130945Z 23016KT CAVOK 21/12 Q1009 NOSIG
FT 130500Z 1306/1406 21005KT CAVOK
BECMG 1309/1312 21015KT
BECMG 1315/1318 29015KT 9999 FEW020

The crew reported that the weather copied from ATIS (Information ‘V’) was CAVOK, wind 230° / 20kts and that the runway was dry. The wind reported by Tower during the takeoff clearance was 230° / 12kts.

On inspection, the tail skid of the aircraft showed evidence of a tail strike. The tail cartridge was found to be compressed, with the fuse pin intact. The operator reported that the aircraft suffered no structural damage.

A strike mark with the colour corresponding to that of the aircraft was found on the centerline of RWY 31 just beyond the intersection with TWY F. The crew reported that the take-off had been initiated at the intersection with TWY C.

The investigation is ongoing and has, to date, focused on the gathering and analysis of data and evidence. The CVR and DFDR have been sent for data download and analysis.

Metars:
LMML 131445Z 23021KT CAVOK 21/11 Q1007 NOSIG=
LMML 131415Z 23019G29KT CAVOK 21/11 Q1007 NOSIG=
LMML 131345Z 23019G30KT CAVOK 21/12 Q1007 NOSIG=
LMML 131315Z 23022G32KT CAVOK 21/12 Q1007 NOSIG=
LMML 131245Z 22019G29KT CAVOK 21/13 Q1007 NOSIG=
LMML 131215Z 22017KT CAVOK 21/13 Q1008 NOSIG=
LMML 131145Z 21016KT CAVOK 21/13 Q1008 NOSIG=
LMML 131115Z 22015G25KT 190V260 CAVOK 21/12 Q1009 NOSIG=
LMML 131045Z 22014KT 190V250 CAVOK 22/12 Q1009 NOSIG=
LMML 131015Z 23017KT CAVOK 22/11 Q1009 NOSIG=
LMML 130945Z 23016KT CAVOK 21/12 Q1009 NOSIG=
LMML 130915Z 23017KT CAVOK 21/12 Q1010 NOSIG=