France A359 at Toronto on Jan 21st 2024, tail strike on landing/go around

Last Update: February 27, 2025 / 14:51:41 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 21, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
Air France

Flight number
AF-356

Departure
Paris Charles de Gaulle, France

Destination
Toronto, Canada

Aircraft Registration
F-HTYH

Aircraft Type
Airbus A350-900

ICAO Type Designator
A359

Airport
Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Toronto

Airport ICAO Code
CYYZ

An Air France Airbus A350-900, registration F-HTYH performing flight AF-356 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Toronto,ON (Canada) with 304 passengers and 12 crew, was landing on Toronto's runway 24L when the aircraft bounced, increased the pitch and contacted the runway surface with its tail before climbing out to safety. The aircraft positioned for another approach to runway 24L about 15 minutes later, landed without further incident and taxied to the apron. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage however.

On Feb 2nd 2024 the TSB reported the occurrence was rated an accident and is being investigated by the TSB stating the aircraft suffered a tail strike during the go around. The aircraft received substantial damage.

On Feb 27th 2025 the TSB reported the first officer was pilot flying and was under training. Upon touchdown the captain, pilot monitoring, called a go around, while the first officer was already starting to set the thrust reversers to reverse idle. The captain repeated the go around instruction, the first officer complied and pushed the thrust levers to the TOGA detent. The aircraft became airborne again at low speed and the pitch was increased while both pilots focussed on the go around. The tail strike occurred at that point. The crew remained unaware of the tail strike, completed the go around and a second approach. The aircraft was repaired in Toronto until June 2024, then transferred to Toulouse (France) and returned to service in October 2024.

Metars:
CYYZ 212300Z 26010KT 15SM FEW030 FEW170 M05/M10 A3047 RMK SC1AC1 SC TR AC TR SLP333=
CYYZ 212200Z 26009KT 15SM SCT030 SCT170 SCT250 M04/M10 A3047 RMK SC3AC1CI1 CI TR SLP331=
CYYZ 212100Z 25016KT 15SM BKN030 M03/M09 A3046 RMK SC7 SLP328=
CYYZ 212000Z 25011KT 15SM OVC030 M02/M08 A3046 RMK SC8 SLP327=
CYYZ 211900Z 26009KT 15SM BKN030 M02/M09 A3045 RMK SC7 SLP326=
CYYZ 211800Z 24007KT 15SM BKN030 M03/M10 A3046 RMK SC7 SLP329=
CYYZ 211700Z 26007KT 210V270 15SM BKN032 M03/M10 A3048 RMK SC7 SLP335=

Passenger video (Video: Gusto Diaries):


Ground observer photo (Anthony Saiters @
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 21, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
Air France

Flight number
AF-356

Departure
Paris Charles de Gaulle, France

Destination
Toronto, Canada

Aircraft Registration
F-HTYH

Aircraft Type
Airbus A350-900

ICAO Type Designator
A359

Airport
Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Toronto

Airport ICAO Code
CYYZ

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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