---
title: "Cathay Pacific tail strike in early July classified as ‘abnormal runway contact’"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/294523903.md"
description: "Hong Kong's Air Accident Investigation Authority classified a July 3 Cathay Pacific tail strike as an 'abnormal runway contact' accident. The Airbus A330, carrying 215 people from Tokyo, experienced the incident during a go-around in adverse weather. While the plane landed safely with no injuries, inspections revealed significant structural damage to the fuselage and cargo compartment. Investigators are analyzing flight data and crew interviews to determine the cause."
datetime: "2026-07-31T13:58:33.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/294523903.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294523903.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/294523903.md)
generator: "portal-rs"
---

# Cathay Pacific tail strike in early July classified as ‘abnormal runway contact’

Hong Kong’s air safety watchdog has classified a tail strike involving a Cathay Pacific Airways passenger jet during an aborted landing at the city’s airport this month as “abnormal runway contact”, according to a preliminary report. The Air Accident Investigation Authority published its report on Friday on the July 3 incident involving flight CX509, carrying 203 passengers and 12 crew, from Tokyo’s Narita airport. During an aborted landing – known as a “go-around” in aviation – in adverse weather, the tail section of the Airbus A330-343’s fuselage made contact with the surface of the south runway at Hong Kong International Airport. The aircraft later landed safely and there were no reports of injuries. In the investigation report, the authority classified the case as an “abnormal runway contact” accident and said a post-flight inspection found signs of abrasion on the lower fuselage skin, as well as damage to the potable water service door, waste service door and aft water drain mast. The aft cargo compartment was deformed, with cracks in several floor beam webs, floor beam supports, slope panel supports, and frame beams. A floor crossbeam support strut was broken and a 10-inch crack was found on the bottom section of the aft pressure bulkhead, the report said. It said that investigators had interviewed the flight crew and collected aircraft flight documents, flight data, cockpit voice recordings and other relevant information. “The investigation team is conducting a detailed analysis of the data and information collected in order to determine the circumstances and causes of this accident in conjunction with identifying areas that need further investigation and/or lines of investigation to pursue,” the report said. The authority’s chief inspector ordered the investigation after Cathay Pacific reported the incident, with participation from France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, representing the country where the aircraft was designed and manufactured. According to the report, the Airbus A330 involved was manufactured in 2001 and was issued a certificate of airworthiness in August last year. The pilot in command had 11,695 hours of flight experience, including 1,119 hours on the A330.

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> **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**