What happened
On Sunday, July 19, 2026, Kalitta Air Flight K4262 (a Boeing 777-300ER, registration N778CK) operating from Brussels (BRU) to Cincinnati (CVG) experienced a significant operational incident. At 7:52 PM local time, during an approach to runway 36R, the aircraft initiated a go-around. As the pilots pitched up, the plane suffered a dramatic tail strike, with visible sparks, despite the wheels appearing to have touched the ground. An emergency was declared. The pilots requested an ILS approach to runway 36C but failed to intercept the localizer, prompting controllers to send them around again. The aircraft landed safely on runway 26C at 8:19 PM, approximately 27 minutes after the initial go-around. Weather conditions were clear with light winds. The FAA has issued a statement confirming the landing and promising an investigation into the cause of the tail strike and the subsequent approach errors