A go-around is never the favored finish to a long-haul journey. The most experienced pilot is forced into a rapid recalibration mode, passengers are caught off guard, and the mental rhythm is disrupted. But for the flight crew of Singapore Airlines SQ917 on January 24, that’s precisely what had to happen—because wind doesn’t wait for convenience.
The aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, was descending at Changi Airport following a regular voyage from Manila. Early that evening, it was supposed to land in Singapore after taking off at 2:54 PM local time. However, wind conditions worsened just minutes before it was caused by land. The crew decided to abort the landing at roughly 6:07 PM while they were about 75 feet above the ground.
That move—textbook in training rooms—was carried out with assurance but not without repercussions. The aircraft’s tail made touch with the runway surface as it changed from descent to ascent. It was a tail strike: one of the more visually stunning, yet operationally limited, accidents in aviation. No alarms, no flames—just the scrape of metal where none should meet concrete.
Although they are uncommon, tail hits are a known problem in commercial aviation. They happen during takeoff or landing when an aircraft’s pitch exceeds safe angles. With long-body airplanes like the A350, the geometry of the fuselage plays an essential role. A little misjudgment, especially during a go-around maneuver in crosswinds, can result in the tail dipping too near. Here, that is exactly what took place.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | January 24, 2026 |
| Flight Number | SQ917 |
| Aircraft Model | Airbus A350-900 (Registration: 9V-SHW) |
| Route | Manila (MNL) → Singapore (SIN) |
| Event Type | Tail strike during aborted landing (go-around) |
| Passengers & Crew | 256 passengers, 16 crew members |
| Weather Condition | Windy, leading to rejected landing at ~75 ft altitude |
| Damage | Tail contacted runway; visible scraping on underside |
| Outcome | Safe second landing, no injuries; aircraft grounded for repairs |
| Official Statements | SIA confirmed incident; aircraft is undergoing inspection and repairs |
| External Reference | CNA Report |
Twenty-five minutes later, the pilots miraculously successfully made a second approach and successfully landed the plane. 256 passengers and 16 crew members disembarked without any injuries or panic. Later photographs revealed minor abrasions on the rear fuselage. The aircraft, however, has been grounded since, undergoing what will certainly be a long and methodical inspection process.
Repairs of this type often extend beyond the visible. Teams from Singapore Airlines Engineering Company and even Airbus itself will assess structural integrity. Internal panel evaluations, ultrasonic testing, x-rays, and possibly even re-certification are all part of it. There’s no rushing these checks—aviation safety doesn’t run on convenience.
Without social media and flight-tracking sites, most people would have completely missed this entire series of events because they happened so subtly. However, for those of us who have kept a close eye on commercial aviation over the years, incidents like these are incredibly instructive—not just about what went wrong, but also about what succeeded.
The smoothness of the airline’s subsequent communication was what most impressed me, not the scuff on the metal. Hedging and over-explanation were absent. Just a calm acknowledgment: the event occurred, repairs are proceeding, and passengers were safe. This discipline felt particularly professional in a time when business answers may sometimes lean theatrical.
This was hardly the first instance of a go-around becoming an engineering nightmare. Pilots train extensively for aborted landings, particularly at large hubs like Changi. But the accuracy under duress was what set this incident apart. Go-arounds necessitate fast decision-making. When the wind is pushing from the side and the runway is speeding up, there is no time for delays.
Some of the world’s most sophisticated avionics are found in aircraft like the A350. But judgment is still human even in the age of robots. At 75 feet in marginal weather, it takes composure and a kind of silent heroism to follow your gut and maintain control when the plane scrapes. It’s not dramatic, but it’s definitive.
The grounded airplane now functions as a pause button. For contemplation as well as for repairs. No matter how small, every incident presents a chance for study. And every successful rescue, particularly one when passengers evacuate oblivious of what nearly occurred, underscores the often invisible brilliance of modern aviation.
With its reputation for elegance and accuracy, Singapore Airlines has little room for operational errors. However, this episode demonstrates that reputation is not built on immunity from mishaps but rather on how those mishaps are handled. And here, the airline’s response was not just timely but reassuringly measured.
9V-SHW is expected to take to the skies again in the upcoming weeks. Its crew was retrained and debriefed, its scrape polished, and its systems examined. And when it occurs, the silent emblem of a lesson learned and resolved will be worn instead of the weight of a mistake.
Flying is often remarked about in terms of speed, ease, or elegance. Occasionally, however, an incident such as this brings the real mechanics of trust back into focus. It reminds us that up there in the flight deck, humans are still flying the jet. People, not robots or commercial slogans. composed, skilled, and prepared to make the difficult decisions when it counts most.
