Cathay A333 at Hong Kong on Jul 3rd 2026, tail strike on go around

Last Update: July 10, 2026 / 06:49:06 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 3, 2026

Classification
Accident

Airline
Cathay Pacific

Flight number
CX-509

Departure
Tokyo Narita, Japan

Destination
Hong Kong, China

Aircraft Registration
B-HLQ

Aircraft Type
Airbus A330-300

ICAO Type Designator
A333

Airport
Chek Lap Kok International Airport, Hong Kong

Airport ICAO Code
VHHH

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300, registration B-HLQ performing flight CX-509 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to Hong Kong (China), was on approach to runway 07R in poor weather at 13:08L (05:08Z) when the crew initiated a go around from very low height, the tail however contacted the runway surface. The aircraft climbed to 5000 feet, positioned for another approach and landed safely on runway 07L about 15 minutes after the go around.

The airline confirmed the aircraft made contact with the runway surface while going around, the aircraft subsequently landed safely. The passengers disembarked normally.

The aircraft is still on the ground in Hong Kong on Jul 10th 2026.

Metars:
VHHH 030630Z 17014KT 0800 0700E R07R/1500U R25L/1400D R07L/1300U R25R/1700N +SHRA FEW007 FEW012CB SCT020 27/25 Q1010 TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030619Z 13012KT 1300 0900E R07R/P2000D R25L/1700U R07L/P2000D R25R/P2000D +SHRA FEW007 FEW012CB SCT025 28/26 Q1010 TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030614Z 13011KT 2600 0800E R07R/P2000N R25L/2000D R07L/P2000U R25R/P2000N +SHRA FEW007 FEW012CB SCT025 28/26 Q1009 TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030600Z 12019G31KT 080V140 1000 0550E R07R/1400D R25L/1500U R07L/P2000D R25R/1500D +SHRA FEW007 FEW012CB SCT025 27/24 Q1009 TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030552Z 12013KT 100V190 9999 1400E R07R/P2000N R25L/P2000D R07L/P2000N R25R/P2000N +SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 29/26 Q1009 TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030549Z 12012KT 100V190 9999 SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 30/27 Q1009 TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030543Z 13010KT 100V190 9999 -SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 30/27 Q1009 RETS RERA TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030533Z 19007G20KT 130V220 9999 +TSRA FEW008 FEW012CB SCT025 29/26 Q1009 TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030530Z 20009G20KT 9000 1100N R07R/P2000U R25L/P2000U R07L/P2000D R25R/P2000U +SHRA FEW008 FEW012CB SCT025 28/25 Q1009 TEMPO 13025G35KT 1500 TSRA +SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030523Z 15012G25KT 1700 0650S R07R/P2000D R25L/2000D R07L/P2000N R25R/P2000N +SHRA FEW005 FEW012CB SCT025 28/25 Q1009 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030515Z 11018KT 3300 1500N +SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 29/26 Q1010 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030512Z 11017KT 9999 1900E SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 30/26 Q1010 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030500Z 12015KT 9999 -SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 31/25 Q1009 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030430Z 12017KT 9999 FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 31/25 Q1009 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030400Z 12014KT 9999 FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 31/25 Q1010 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030330Z 12017KT 9999 VCTS FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 31/25 Q1010 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030323Z 12017KT 9999 VCTS FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 31/25 Q1010 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030300Z 12018KT 080V140 9999 FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 31/25 Q1010 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030241Z 11016KT 9999 VCTS VCSH FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 31/26 Q1010 TEMPO 13020G30KT 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030230Z 11011KT 080V140 9999 VCSH FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 31/26 Q1010 RETS TEMPO 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030200Z 11010KT 9999 TS VCSH FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 29/26 Q1010 TEMPO 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030153Z 10014KT 9999 VCTS FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 30/25 Q1010 TEMPO 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030130Z 12013KT 9999 -SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 29/25 Q1010 TEMPO 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030112Z 12012KT 100V160 9999 -SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 29/26 Q1009 RERA TEMPO 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030112Z 12012KT 100V160 9999 -SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 29/26 Q1009 RERA TEMPO 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=
VHHH 030100Z 14014KT 1000 0750E R07R/P2000D R25L/1500N R07L/P2000D R25R/1300N VCTS +SHRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT025 26/24 Q1010 TEMPO 2500 TSRA SHRA FEW008CB SCT015=