A China Southern Airlines 787-9 sustained structural damage during a hard landing at Guangzhou, China on 21 October 2024. China Southern Airlines flight CZ3534, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was conducting an arrival from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
The flight was given a clearance to land on a runway 02L Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN). The aircraft suffered a heavy landing resulting in its tail impacting the runway surface. Following the touchdown the aircraft vacated the active runway and taxied to the apron hardstanding area. The postflight inspection of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the fuselage underside as a result of the heavy landing.
A photograph taken during the inspection reveals the extent of the damage to the rear empennage assembly as a result of the tail strike. The touchdown was reported as a 2.47G heavy landing, which resulted in structural cracking and damage. Flight data shows that flight CZ3534 and made an on-time departure from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 1105 local time on 21 October.
The flight had then proceeded normally, climbing to flight level FL340 for the southwesterly route to Guangzhou. Descent and approach procedures were similarly conducted normally. The aircraft carried out an approach to runway 02L as instructed. The aircraft conducting the CZ3534 service from Shanghai was a Boeing 787-9, registered B-1243. This is a 6.5 year old widebody aircraft belonging to the carrier China Southern Airlines. It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in May 2018.
