PALMA DE MALLORCA — A TUI Airways Boeing 737-800 has been grounded at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) after suffering substantial structural damage from a tail strike during its initial landing attempt on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-8K2 operating flight BY1624 from Dublin International Airport (DUB), was performing its approach to Mallorca’s Runway 24L. According to flight tracking data and initial reports, the aircraft’s tail made heavy contact with the tarmac as it touched down.
Quick Go-Around Avoids Further Escalation
Following the impact, the flight crew immediately initiated a go-around, climbing back out into the sky over the Mediterranean island to stabilize the aircraft and evaluate the damage.
After circling back for a secondary approach, the pilots executed a safe and uneventful landing on the parallel Runway 24R roughly 15 minutes later. Emergency services met the aircraft on the taxiway as a standard precaution, and all passengers and crew disembarked safely via the mobile stairs. No injuries have been reported.
Investigation and Grounding
The twin-jet, registered as G-TUKS, remains on the apron at Palma de Mallorca where aviation technicians and safety inspectors are assessing the tail section. Photos shared on social media by local aviation enthusiasts show visible scraping and structural scoring on the lower rear fuselage.
TUI 737 Tailstrike in palma
by u/ferral1985 in aviation
A tail strike occurs when the tail of an aircraft touches the runway during takeoff or landing, often caused by a high angle of attack or sudden shifts in wind speed. Because a tail strike can compromise the pressure bulkhead of the aircraft, the plane will undergo rigorous structural integrity testing before being cleared to return to commercial service.
TUI has dispatched a replacement aircraft to handle the return leg (flight BY1625) back to Ireland, resulting in minor scheduling delays for holidaymakers. An official investigation into the exact meteorological and operational factors behind the hard landing has been launched by local aviation safety authorities.
