Kalitta Air Boeing 777 Freighter Suffers Tail Strike at CVG

A Kalitta Air Boeing 777-300ERSF freighter suffered a tail strike during a go-around at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) on Sunday, July 19. The aircraft, operating as flight K4 264 inbound from Brussels, contacted the runway surface during a missed approach, producing visible sparks as the crew pitched up to climb away. The incident was captured on video by the TakingOff YouTube channel.

The flight crew maintained control following the strike, climbing to approximately 4,000 feet before air traffic control vectored them for a second approach. The aircraft landed safely at approximately 8:15 p.m. local time with no injuries reported. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it has opened an investigation into the event.

Maintenance and Investigation

Kalitta Air Chief Operating Officer Heath Nicholl confirmed that the aircraft, registration N778CK, has been removed from service pending a full structural evaluation. The freighter is expected to be ferried to the airline's heavy maintenance facility at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport in Michigan for inspections and any necessary repairs. Kalitta Air said the incident is also under internal review.