Lufthansa 747 narrowly avoids tail strike during LAX landing

A Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 came perilously close to disaster during a landing attempt at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, according to footage and reports ^[1]. The aircraft, Flight LH 456, which departed Frankfurt at 11am local time, descended toward Runway 24R but touched down farther along the tarmac than intended ^[2]. Pilots immediately aborted the landing, executing a go-around maneuver that sent the massive jet sharply upward, causing its tail to dip dangerously close to the runway surface.

Footage from Airline Videos Live shows the four-engine jumbo jet, measuring roughly 250 feet long, pitching up with its landing gear still extended, creating a heart-stopping moment as the rear of the fuselage appeared to skim the ground by mere inches ^[2]. No visible tail strike occurred, and the aircraft safely climbed away to prepare for a second landing attempt ^[1].

Lufthansa confirmed the incident, stating the flight “overshot the runway during its first landing attempt” and landed normally on its second try ^[1]. The airline emphasized that go-arounds are standard safety procedures used when an approach is unstable or unsuitable ^[2].

The Boeing 747-8 is one of the largest passenger aircraft in service, with a length of 250 feet and a height exceeding 60 feet, making precise pitch control critical during landing and takeoff ^[2]. A tail strike—where the rear of the aircraft hits the ground—can cause significant damage and is a known risk during steep climb-out maneuvers, especially with long aircraft like the 747.

Despite the dramatic visuals, there was no immediate indication of damage to the aircraft ^[2]. The incident also underscores the rarity of passenger jumbo jets, with only around 50 Boeing 747s still in commercial service worldwide, and Lufthansa operating more than half of them.

The event comes amid broader aviation disruptions, including Lufthansa Group suspending flights to Riyadh through October 16 following an attack claimed by Houthi rebels that caused over 275 flight cancellations at King Khalid International Airport ^[1]. The story was first reported by Mirror and New York Post.