Synopsis
On April 10, 2017, at 10:39 UTC, a Boeing 757-200 aircraft, registration G-LSAI, operated by Jet2.com, experienced a tailstrike during the landing manoeuvre at Alicante-Elche Airport (LEAL). The flight was a scheduled international commercial passenger service from Leeds Bradford Airport (EGNM), UK, which had departed at 08:13 UTC. The aircraft carried 230 passengers and 8 crew members, none of whom required medical attention.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Boeing 757-200, registration G-LSAI, owned and operated by Jet2.com. It was configured for passenger transport.
Flight Crew
The technical crew comprised a line supervising captain (serving as the captain), a co-pilot acting as pilot flying, and a line training captain in the observer's seat. The co-pilot was undergoing his final evaluation for completion of line training, and the training captain was conducting the assessment.
Accident Sequence
The flight proceeded without incident until the landing at Alicante-Elche. During touchdown, the aircraft attained a pitch attitude of approximately 10 degrees, which was maintained for two seconds. This resulted in the lower part of the tail cone striking the runway surface.
Damage
The aircraft sustained significant damage to the tail area. All persons on board disembarked normally, with no reports of injuries.
Investigation
The investigation conducted by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC) determined that the cause of the accident was incorrect pitch position control during landing. No safety recommendations were issued.