Flight Disruptions
British Airways A321neo suffers tail strike during Heathrow landing attempt

British Airways A321neo suffers tail strike during Heathrow landing attempt

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Checked by Josh Arnfield

Last updated on 13 November 2026

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Disruption overview

A British Airways flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol completed a safe second landing at London Heathrow Airport after its Airbus A321neo suffered a tail strike during the initial attempt on 13 November 2026. Livestream footage showed the aircraft's rear appearing to touch the runway twice before the crew climbed away, and the aircraft wasn't scheduled to fly again for another 2 days. British Airways is assisting the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch; if you were traveling on this service, compensation eligibility depends on the circumstances and the impact on your journey, so it's worth checking your rights rather than assuming a payment is due.

Passengers affected by this flight disruption may be eligible for compensation of up to £520 under passenger rights regulations. Eligibility depends on the circumstances of the disruption.

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Disruption details

A British Airways Airbus A321neo suffered a tail strike while attempting to land at London Heathrow Airport on 13 November 2026 after a flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The crew abandoned the landing, climbed away, and landed safely on a second attempt.

For passengers, this meant another approach before reaching their destination. British Airways confirmed that the aircraft landed safely.

A livestream captured the first landing attempt. The footage showed the rear of the aircraft appearing to make contact with the runway twice before the pilots climbed away from Heathrow. The second landing took place without another incident.

The A321neo involved can carry about 200 passengers. Following the incident, the aircraft wasn't scheduled to fly again for another 2 days.

British Airways is assisting the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch with its investigation. The airline said legal restrictions prevented it from commenting further while that investigation was ongoing.

If you were on this flight, it's worth checking your passenger rights. The journey from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to London in the United Kingdom falls within European and UK passenger protection coverage, including EC 261 and UK 261. However, a landing incident alone doesn't establish a right to compensation: eligibility depends on the circumstances and how your journey was affected.

Depending on your circumstances, passenger protections can also include care during a long wait, or rebooking and refund options after a cancellation. You can use AirHelp's free flight checker to see whether your flight qualifies for compensation, without assuming that a payment is owed.

Know your rights

These are your air passenger rights

When your flight's disrupted, you have rights. Most passenger protection laws cover the following:

Compensation

Good passenger rights ensure passengers get fairly compensated for delays and cancellations. Try our compensation check and find out how much money we can get you.

Rerouting or refund

If your flight is canceled, your airline must provide an alternative. Some laws say you can choose a full refund instead.

Food and essential care

Providing food and drinks is a basic right under many regulations. Typically after a delay of a few hours.

Accommodation

Some passenger rights say the airline must provide accommodation when your journey is delayed overnight.

This advice is provided to help you if your flight is delayed or canceled. However, the exact care and compensation you are entitled to will depend on your specific circumstances and flight. Always follow the directions of your airline, particularly with regard to check-in and boarding times.

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Quick facts

Summary

Disruption

Unknown

Cause

Other

Status

Past disruption

Compensation

May qualify for compensation

Airlines affected

British Airways

Airports affected

London Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Cities affected

London, Amsterdam

Countries affected

United Kingdom, Netherlands

Start date

2026-11-13

Checked by

Josh Arnfield

Date updated

13 November 2026

What to do if your flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked

If you're traveling to, from, or within the European Union, here's what you should do when you experience a disruption.

Gather evidence that your flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked.

Get the airline to provide written confirmation of the disruption and the reason behind it.

Request an alternative flight to your destination — or a refund if you no longer wish to travel.

Make a note of the arrival time at your final destination.

Ask the airline to provide vouchers for meals and refreshments.

Avoid signing documents or accepting offers that may waive your passenger rights.

If an overnight stay is required, ask the airline to provide accommodation.

Save receipts for any additional expenses caused by the disruption.

Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.

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