A WestJet Boeing 737-800 operating from Calgary to Houston, Texas made a precautionary return to Calgary after suffering a tale strike on departure on 25 June 2024.
WestJet flight WS1572, a Boeing 737-800, had conducted departure from Calgary International Airport (YYC) RWY35R.
WestJet WS1572 Calgary-Houston

During the rotation phase the aircraft’s tail struck the runway. Flight crew continued the departure and climb procedure.
When the aircraft established on track for Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), flight crew consulted with the company with respect to the tale strike issue.
Depressurized Return to Calgary
The decision was then made to conduct a precautionary return to Calgary, and a direct track to the origin airport was subsequently made good.

The aircraft landed without further incident approximately one hour after initial departure. In a subsequent report on the incident, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) confirmed the tale strike on departure.
The TSB report continued, stating that after the aircraft was established in the cruise at flight level FL350. The flight crew then ran the checklist for a tail strike and initiated a depressurization of the cabin.
An urgency call (PAN PAN) was placed with air traffic control, and rescue and firefighting assets were requested for the arrival.
The diversion and subsequent return to Calgary International Airport was conducted in depressurized configuration at the reduced altitude of 10,000 feet.
The TSB confirmed that the aircraft then made an uneventful approach and carried out an overweight landing.

Aircraft Details
The subsequent tail strike inspection and overweight landing inspection was carried out by company maintenance staff. No issues were found in the post landing inspection.
All the aircraft was subsequently returned to service on 28 June.
The aircraft conducting the WS1572 scheduled service to Houston was a Boeing 737-800, registered C-FZRM. This is a 7.8-year-old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier WestJet.
It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery in October 2016.

Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly Emergencies and Incidents newsletter.

Click the photo to join our WhatsApp channel so then you can stay up to date with everything going on in the aviation industry!