Severe Tail Strike Incident for LATAM Boeing 777-300ER in Milan
On July 9, a LATAM Airlines Boeing 777-300ER experienced a severe tail strike while departing from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) en route to Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). The incident, which involved the aircraft scraping its tail against the runway, was captured on video and widely shared on social media.
The video shows the aircraft's tail scraping the runway and generating a plume of white smoke before it finally took off. The plane, registered as PT-MUG, did not climb beyond 5,900 feet after takeoff.
Despite taking off, the aircraft did not reach cruising altitude and began dumping fuel for approximately an hour. It then returned to Milan Malpensa Airport, landing safely at 12:37 local time and taxied to the gate without further issues.
LATAM Airlines' Boeing 777-300ER, delivered to the airline on October 23, 2012, has since accumulated 41,578 flight hours and 4,828 flight cycles. The aircraft is currently undergoing repairs with no scheduled flights following the incident.
LATAM Airlines operates five weekly flights from MXP to South America, specifically to Sao Paulo. Starting in the upcoming winter season, the airline plans to increase these flights to six per week, enhancing the route's capacity and available seat kilometers.
Since 2018, LATAM Airlines has been the sole operator of flights from Milan Malpensa to South America, following the cessation of similar routes by Alitalia and Air Italy. The increase in flight frequency is expected to significantly boost connectivity between Europe and South America, providing more options for passengers traveling on this route.
