UPS Airbus A300-600F Grounds After Tail Strike on Landing in Louisville

A UPS Airbus A300-600F, registered as N162UP, suffered a tail strike while landing at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport earlier this week. The incident occurred as the aircraft, arriving from Ontario International Airport in California, touched down on runway 17R. Despite the tail striking the runway, the aircraft rolled safely to the apron, where it has remained grounded for inspections since the event.

According to Flightradar24, the 19-year-old aircraft, flight 5X2909, had departed from Ontario at 05:45 AM, arriving 30 minutes ahead of schedule at 11:57 AM. Upon touching down, the two crew members reported the tail strike to the tower, and the aircraft was removed from service to assess any damage.

Tail strikes can occur during takeoff or landing, often due to pilot error or specific descent angles. While these incidents don’t typically pose immediate risks to onboard crew, they can weaken the aircraft’s fuselage over time, with severe strikes leading to issues like loss of cabin pressurization. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all tail strikes to be reported and inspected.

The A300-600F in question, part of UPS’s 52-strong fleet of A300-600s, has been with the airline since 2005 and was recently upgraded with new avionics. As UPS modernizes its fleet with new Boeing 767-300Fs, it continues to rely on its robust A300s for domestic routes, where the aircraft plays a key role in operations.