Overview
• Operator: Air France
• Aircraft Model: Airbus A350-900
• Registration: F-HTYH
• Flight Number: AF-356
• Route: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
• Date: 21 January 2024
• Occupants: 304 passengers, 12 crew
• Casualties: None reported
• Nature of Incident: Tail strike during landing attempt followed by a go-around
Accident Summary
An Air France Airbus A350-900, operating as flight AF-356 from Paris (CDG) to Toronto (YYZ), attempted a landing on runway 24L at Toronto Pearson International Airport when it experienced a bounce on touchdown, followed by a tail strike as the aircraft pitched up during an unexpected go-around.
The aircraft climbed out safely, repositioned for a second approach, and landed without further incident approximately 15 minutes later.
There were no injuries among the 304 passengers and 12 crew members, but the aircraft sustained substantial structural damage to the tail section.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) classified the incident as an accident and launched an investigation.
On February 27, 2025, the TSB released its final report, revealing that:
• The first officer was the pilot flying (PF) and was undergoing training.
• Upon touchdown, the captain (pilot monitoring) called for a go-around, but the first officer had already started engaging reverse thrust.
• The captain repeated the go-around instruction, and the first officer advanced the thrust levers to TOGA, causing the aircraft to lift off again at low speed.
• Both pilots focused on the go-around procedure, inadvertently increasing the pitch, which resulted in a tail strike.
• The crew remained unaware of the tail strike until later inspection.
• The aircraft was grounded for repairs in Toronto until June 2024, then ferried to Toulouse for further work, before returning to service in October 2024.
Sequence of Events
Pre-incident Conditions:
• The aircraft was on a stabilized approach to runway 24L at Toronto.
• Weather conditions were clear with good visibility but moderate winds from 250-260° at 9-16 knots.
• The first officer (under training) was designated as the pilot flying (PF), with the captain acting as pilot monitoring (PM).
Landing & Go-Around Sequence:
• The aircraft touched down but bounced, likely due to flare misjudgment or wind gust effects.
• The captain called for a go-around just as the first officer had started to engage reverse thrust.
• Confusion ensued:
• The first officer initially began the reverse thrust sequence.
• The captain repeated the go-around command.
• The first officer quickly advanced the thrust levers to TOGA.
• The aircraft became airborne again at low speed, and the pitch angle increased, causing the tail to strike the runway.
Go-Around & Second Approach:
• Despite the tail strike, the aircraft climbed out safely and positioned for another approach.
• The crew was unaware of the tail strike at the time.
• The aircraft landed safely on runway 24L approximately 15 minutes later and taxied to the gate.
Post-Landing Inspection & Aircraft Damage:
• Ground crews identified significant tail damage, prompting an extensive inspection.
• The aircraft was declared unfit for service and underwent major repairs in Toronto until June 2024.
• It was later ferried to Toulouse for further structural repairs, before returning to service in October 2024.
Investigation & Findings
Final TSB Report (February 27, 2025):
The probable causes of the accident were:
1. Miscommunication between the captain and first officer during landing:
• The first officer was already engaging reverse thrust when the captain unexpectedly called for a go-around.
• The captain repeated the go-around instruction, leading to an abrupt transition from landing to takeoff configuration.
2. Improper pitch management during the go-around:
• The first officer rapidly pushed the thrust levers to TOGA, which caused a sharp increase in pitch at low airspeed.
• The excessive pitch led to a tail strike before the aircraft fully climbed away from the runway.
3. Lack of situational awareness:
• Neither pilot was aware of the tail strike at the time.
• The focus was on executing the go-around, delaying any immediate recognition of the tail contact.
Aircraft Damage Assessment:
• Tail section sustained substantial structural damage, requiring months of repairs.
• Runway markings confirmed tail contact, but no debris was left behind.
• The aircraft was grounded for nearly 9 months before returning to service in October 2024.
Analysis & Safety Recommendations
For Flight Operations & Airlines:
• Reinforce training on handling bounced landings and go-arounds to avoid sudden, unnecessary pitch increases.
• Emphasize clear and concise cockpit communication, especially in go-around situations.
• Ensure first officers under training are prepared for unexpected decision changes during critical phases of flight.
• Review standard operating procedures (SOPs) to clarify go-around execution when reversers are engaged.
For Air France & A350 Fleet Training:
• Simulated training scenarios should include unexpected go-around calls during landing rolls to improve reaction times and decision-making.
• Pilots should be trained to recognize tail strike risks when executing go-arounds at low speeds.
• Encourage situational awareness through reinforced CRM (Crew Resource Management) training.
For Regulatory Authorities & Airports:
• Encourage enhanced tail strike detection measures, such as real-time alerts to flight crews.
• Runway touchdown zone cameras and data tracking could help detect tail strikes earlier.
• TSB should recommend further investigation into A350 tail strike vulnerability during low-speed go-arounds.
Weather Conditions at the Time (METAR Reports for CYYZ – Toronto Pearson)
• Wind: 250-260° at 9-16 knots
• Visibility: 15 statute miles
• Sky Conditions: Few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered at 17,000 feet
• Temperature: -5°C
• Altimeter: 30.47 inHg
Conclusion
This accident highlights the risks of unexpected go-arounds at low speed, particularly when reverse thrust is already being engaged. The lack of clear communication between the pilots led to confusion, which resulted in an excessive pitch increase and a tail strike.
The incident underscores the need for improved training on bounced landings, go-arounds, and decision-making under pressure, especially for first officers in training.
The Air France A350 was out of service for nearly 9 months, reinforcing the high costs and operational impacts of tail strikes.
Future training and procedural refinements should focus on ensuring smooth transition between landing and go-around phases to prevent similar incidents.
Disclaimer
“This report is based on available information as of 27 February 2025. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the completeness of the details cannot be guaranteed. If you are the rightful owner of any referenced materials and wish them removed, please email takedown@cockpitking.com.”
