American A321 at Aruba on Mar 12th 2026, tail scrape on takeoff

Last Update: March 14, 2026 / 20:33:30 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 12, 2026

Classification
Incident

Airline
American Airlines

Flight number
AA-870

Departure
Aruba, Aruba

Destination
Philadelphia, United States

Aircraft Registration
N120EE

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

Airport
Queen Beatrix International Airport, Oranjestad

Airport ICAO Code
TNCA

An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N120EE performing flight AA-870 from Aruba (Aruba) to Philadelphia,PA (USA), was departing Aruba's runway 11 at 13:55L (17:55Z) when the tail contacted the runway surface for a number of seconds while rotating for takeoff. The aircraft climbed to 4000 feet and entered a hold to burn off fuel before returning to Aruba for a safe landing on runway 11 about 2:20 hours after departure.

The aircraft is still on the ground in Aruba about 48 hours after landing.

Metars:
TNCA 122100Z 09015KT 9999 SCT017 28/22 Q1011 NOSIG=
TNCA 122006Z 09017KT 9999 BKN017 28/22 Q1011 NOSIG=
TNCA 122000Z 10016KT 070V130 9999 BKN017 28/22 Q1011 NOSIG=
TNCA 121900Z 11015KT 070V140 9999 VCSH FEW017TCU BKN020 27/23 Q1012 NOSIG=
TNCA 121826Z 11012G22KT 080V140 8000 -SHRA FEW017TCU SCT030 28/22 Q1012 NOSIG=
TNCA 121812Z 09015KT 8000 -SHRA SCT017TCU SCT030 28/22 Q1012 NOSIG=
TNCA 121800Z 09012KT 050V120 9999 -SHRA BKN015 29/22 Q1012 RERA NOSIG=
TNCA 121700Z 08017KT 9000 SHRA BKN015 30/22 Q1013 NOSIG=
TNCA 121600Z 09016KT 9999 SCT020 29/22 Q1014 NOSIG=
TNCA 121500Z 10017KT 9999 SCT021 30/21 Q1014 NOSIG=
TNCA 121400Z 10016KT 9999 BKN020 29/21 Q1015 NOSIG=
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
N120EE
Country of Registration
United States
Date of Registration
QicAnjdddpjAkndcg Subscribe to unlock
TCDS Ident. No.
Necig Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
Aircraft Model / Type
A321-231
Number of Seats
Lfq Subscribe to unlock
ICAO Aircraft Type
A321
Year of Manufacture
KblA Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Hgh Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
AhApij Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
M Subscribe to unlock
Engine Manufacturer
Ddk Subscribe to unlock
Engine Model
Kqcmkgkd Subscribe to unlock
Engine Type
Gmnipnjdh Subscribe to unlock
Pounds of Thrust
Ibdde Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
Gcfm bmiljcAAgAk gkApqqpnbecbnjeg AeddcmqfbknqkqphggAnhqqmAdnmqbbgmhedcccmkqhqAhnpifcmfdcl Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 12, 2026

Classification
Incident

Airline
American Airlines

Flight number
AA-870

Departure
Aruba, Aruba

Destination
Philadelphia, United States

Aircraft Registration
N120EE

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

Airport
Queen Beatrix International Airport, Oranjestad

Airport ICAO Code
TNCA

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