Boeing 747 Lands Dangerously Close to Tail Strike at LAX

A Lufthansa Boeing 747 experienced a critical moment during an attempted landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, coming perilously close to a tail strike. The jumbo jet's pilots initiated a go-around after the aircraft appeared to float along the runway before touching down farther down than expected, with limited remaining runway.

Video footage captured the massive four-engine aircraft pitching sharply upward as it climbed back into the sky, its tail section appearing to pass just inches from the tarmac. The extraordinary maneuver occurred as the pilots made a split-second decision to abandon the landing rather than risk a catastrophic runway overrun.

The incident unfolded shortly after the aircraft, which had flown from Germany, approached Runway 24R. While the initial descent showed no outward signs of trouble, the jet's touchdown point was significantly beyond the normal threshold. With insufficient runway left to safely decelerate, the crew executed a go-around.

The Boeing 747-8, one of the largest passenger jets ever built, was seen in an unusually steep nose-up attitude during its climb. Despite the alarming proximity of the tail to the ground, no visible tail strike was reported, and the aircraft managed to gain sufficient altitude.

After successfully aborting the landing, the flight crew prepared to circle back and attempt another approach to LAX. The incident highlights the critical nature of landing procedures, especially for large aircraft such as the 747, which stretches approximately 250 feet and requires precise control of pitch during takeoff and landing.

The Boeing 747 is becoming a rarer sight in airline fleets worldwide, with only about 50 passenger variants still in service. Lufthansa remains the largest operator of the iconic jumbo jet, though airlines are increasingly transitioning to more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft.