A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX 8 departing for Paphos, Cyprus suffered a tail strike on takeoff from Birmingham on 23 August 2024.
Ryanair flight FR2136, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was conducting a departure from RWY33 Birmingham International Airport (BHX).
During the rotation phase, the aircraft’s tail skid made contact with the runway. The subsequent tail strike was evidenced by the emission of white smoke from the tail skid assembly.
Ryanair FR2136 Birmingham-Paphos
The flight continued as per schedule and the aircraft subsequently landed at Paphos International Airport (PHO) without further incident.
The aircraft was able to continue with its next rotation from Paphos without undue delay. Winds were reported as gusting to 21 kts during the takeoff from Birmingham, with Storm Lilian impacting the United Kingdom.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that flight FR2136 had made a slightly delayed departure out of Birmingham at 09 58 local time on 23 August. Scheduled departure time for the service was listed as 09 15 local time.
Following the takeoff incident, the aircraft set course normally and climbed to flight level FL370 (37,000 feet). The cruise, descent and approach to the destination Paphos International Airport were similarly conducted normally.
The aircraft conducting the FR2136 service from Birmingham was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered EI-IJA. This is a 0.7 year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Ryanair.
It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in December 2023.
A tail strike occurs when the tail section of an aircraft contacts the ground during takeoff or landing. This can be caused by various factors, including:
- Excessive rotation: If the pilot rotates the aircraft too quickly, the nose may pitch up too sharply, causing the tail to strike the runway.
- Incorrect weight and balance: If the aircraft is improperly loaded, it can affect its center of gravity and increase the risk of tail strikes.
- Crosswinds: Strong crosswinds can cause the aircraft to drift sideways, increasing the likelihood of a tail strike.
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