Boeing 747 Aborts Landing at LAX, Tail Skims Runway

A Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet aborted a landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Saturday afternoon, with video footage showing the aircraft pitching sharply upward and its tail appearing to narrowly miss the runway. The incident occurred as the flight, originating from Frankfurt, Germany, attempted to land on Runway 24R.

Footage captured by aviation enthusiasts shows the massive aircraft descending with its landing gear extended. Shortly after appearing to touch down farther down the tarmac than expected, the pilots initiated a go-around, powering the aircraft back into the air. As the plane climbed, its nose rose steeply, causing the rear of the fuselage to dip close to the ground.

The maneuver, while dramatic, allowed the flight crew to climb safely away from the runway. The aircraft’s landing gear remained extended as it gained altitude, and no obvious tail strike was apparent in the video. The plane then proceeded to circle the airport to prepare for another landing attempt.

The Boeing 747-8 is one of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, measuring approximately 250 feet in length and over 60 feet in height. Managing the aircraft's pitch during landing and takeoff is crucial, as a sudden nose-up attitude can lead to a tail strike, a potentially damaging event.

Go-arounds are a standard safety procedure in aviation, enabling pilots to discontinue an unstable landing approach and reassess for a subsequent attempt. The incident highlights the diminishing presence of four-engine jumbo jets like the 747 in commercial passenger service, as airlines increasingly favor more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft. Lufthansa remains one of the few carriers still operating a significant number of 747s in its fleet.