SINGAPORE: The tail end of a Singapore Airlines (SIA) plane touched the runway while aborting a landing at Changi Airport on Saturday (Jan 24).

The Airbus A350 operating flight SQ917 from Manila was “grounded” at 6:07 p.m. due to strong winds, an SIA spokesperson said in response to questions from CNA on Tuesday. The aircraft landed safely 25 minutes later.

The aircraft’s tail touched the runway when the landing was aborted, the spokesperson added.

This is known as a tail strike and occurs when the tail of an aircraft touches the runway during takeoff or landing. Although rare, it could cost airlines millions of dollars in repairs, according to travel website VisaHQ.

An SIA spokesperson said the aircraft was being repaired as a result.

After an aborted landing on Saturday, the plane, carrying 256 passengers and 16 crew members, circled and landed safely at 6:32 p.m., taxiing to the terminal without incident, the spokesperson added.

All customers and crew disembarked normally.