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Sparks have flown at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) after a Kalitta Air cargo aircraft encountered a tail strike as it attempted to land at the US airport. According to initial reports, as shared by the FAA on X, the aircraft operating as K4 264 scraped the runway during a go-around. The plane was shortly after able to land safely.
The Boeing 777-300 had arrived after a transatlantic service from Brussels on Sunday, and as the plane came into land at Cincinnati, it experienced a tail strike. Onlookers captured the incident unfold, and this was quickly shared on social media. Kalitta Air confirmed the airplane has been removed from service while an investigation is conducted before it is transferred to Kalitta's maintenance facility in Michigan.
Sparks Fly At Cincinnati Airport After The Boeing 777-300 Experienced A Tail Strike
Reviewing the flight data, the aircraft, operated by Kalitta Air with registration N778CK, departed from Brussels Airport (BRU) on Sunday, July 19 at 5:47 PM and operated an eight-hour and 32-minute service across the Atlantic to Cincinnati. On arrival at CVG, the aircraft was attempting to land when it suffered the tail strike during a go-around.
There have been no reports of any injuries to those onboard, with Kalitta's Chief Operating Officer, Heath Nicholl, confirming the plane had landed safely and was removed from service. Latest flight data shows the plane is set to fly to Oscoda–Wurtsmith Airport (OSC) this evening, where the airline has its heavy maintenance facility.
As reported by FOX19, the plane had an attempted landing at Cincinnati when the tail skid occurred as the aircraft had a rough attempted landing at the popular logistics hub. Nicholl provided the following statement:
“The event is under review, and we do not have any additional information to provide at this time.”
Aircraft Details: N778CK
According to flight data, the aircraft at the centre of the incident is a 21.4-year-old 777-36NERSF aircraft, N778CK. It bears serial number (MSN) 32789 and first entered commercial service back in 2005 in Dubai for Emirates. The plane is powered by two General Electric GE90-115B engines and took its first test flight on March 9, 2005.
When delivered to Emirates on March 30, 2005, it flew under United Arab Emirates registration A6-EBB. It was leased from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) and was stored numerous times between March 2018 and June 2018, and from February 2020. It was subsequently transferred to Kalitta Air on September 11, 2025. Further aircraft details as per ch-aviation below:
The aircraft's conversion from a passenger aircraft to a freighter was completed by IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries), and since then is used by Kalitta Air for its long-haul cargo operations. Kalitta Air has acquired these aircraft as a suitable replacement as part of a fleet modernization plan to retire aging 747-400 freighters.
What Happens In A Tail Strike?
Tail strikes occur when the rear fuselage component of an aircraft hits the runway. This can occur during takeoff or landing, usually influenced by the pulling up of the nose too quickly or too high. Additional factors can be attempting to land with the incorrect pitch or during strong winds.
Immediate consequences of a tail strike can lead to structural damage due to the impact scrapes crushing the metal on the underside of the aircraft's tail; this can compromise the pressurized fuselage. In most cases, it is common for a pilot to execute a go-around after this occurs, so the plane can land and be inspected before continuing with scheduled plans.
In the case of Kalitta Air and its recent incident at Cincinnati, the damage will now largely be attended to at its maintenance facility in Michigan before returning to regular scheduled service.
