Lufthansa Boeing Jet Barely Avoids Runway Crash During Landing in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Monday, 12 October 2026.
A Lufthansa Boeing 747 aborted its landing at Los Angeles International Airport after bouncing heavily and narrowly avoiding a tail strike. The aircraft landed safely on its second attempt.
Incident Overview and Flight Details
On October 10, 2026, a Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 flight executed a go-around maneuver at Los Angeles International Airport after a hard landing attempt raised safety concerns [2]. Video footage captured the wide-body aircraft bouncing heavily off the runway before pilot intervention initiated a successful second approach [1]. While initial reports suggested a potential tail strike, subsequent analysis of the video evidence confirmed that the aircraft’s tail narrowly cleared the runway surface without contact [4]. The flight, identified as LH456, departed from Frankfurt Airport earlier that day and was scheduled to arrive at 1:10 PM local time [2]. The incident occurred during the landing attempt at 1:18 PM, with the aircraft safely touching down on the second attempt at 1:33 PM [2]. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew during the event [1].
Fleet Scarcity and Operational Context
The incident draws attention to the operational status of the Boeing 747, as there are currently only around 50 Boeing 747s remaining in global airline fleets [3]. Lufthansa operates more than 25 of these aircraft, representing at least 50 percent of the active global fleet for this model [3]. This concentration highlights the significance of safety protocols within the airline’s high-capacity passenger jet operations at major U.S. aviation hubs [1]. The specific aircraft involved, registration D-ABYK, is 13.22 years old and continues to be part of the active transatlantic fleet [2]. The rarity of the aircraft type amplifies the scrutiny placed on each operational incident involving the quadjet [3].
Schedule Impact and Safety Protocols
Following the aborted landing, the return flight to Frankfurt, designated LH457, experienced a departure delay from 3:05 PM to 4:00 PM local time [2]. Despite the disruption, the aircraft subsequently completed the transatlantic crossing and arrived in Germany on October 11, 2026, on schedule [2]. A Lufthansa spokesperson stated that the go-around was a standard procedure that has been well-rehearsed, emphasizing that safety is always a top priority [2]. Go-arounds are standard industry safety procedures used to discontinue unsuitable landing attempts and circle for a second approach [3]. The event underscores the importance of pilot intervention in maintaining safety margins during unstable landing approaches [4].