Monday 13 October 2025 — Thousands of passengers faced major disruption at Heathrow and Manchester airports after a dramatic 170 mph tail strike forced runway closures and widespread flight delays.
What happened at Heathrow Airport
A DHL Airbus A300 cargo aircraft arriving from Leipzig struck its tail on Heathrow’s northern runway at approximately 5:13 pm.
According to data from Flightradar24, the aircraft was travelling at around 170 mph when the impact occurred. The pilots quickly initiated a go-around manoeuvre, successfully landing around 20 minutes later on the southern runway.
Eyewitness and aviation streamer Jerry Dyer (Big Jet TV) reported that a sudden gust of wind may have caused the aircraft to pitch sharply upwards before the tail hit the runway. The aircraft’s rear fuselage made contact with the tarmac before climbing away again.
Heathrow’s northern runway was closed for inspection immediately after the incident, though reopened roughly ten minutes later once debris checks were complete. Even with the short closure, the knock-on effect caused extensive delays and diversions.
A DHL spokesperson confirmed that the crew were safe and that the airline is cooperating fully with investigators:
“Safety is our highest priority. We are working closely with authorities to determine the cause of this incident.”
Flight delays, diversions and cancellations
The temporary closure at Heathrow triggered a domino effect across the airport’s evening schedule:
- More than 20 departing flights were delayed by over an hour.
- Several transatlantic services were held on stand due to runway congestion.
- Multiple inbound flights were placed in holding patterns before being rerouted to Gatwick or Birmingham.
Fog compounds problems at Manchester Airport
While Heathrow dealt with its runway inspection, Manchester Airport was simultaneously hit by dense fog, grounding and diverting several flights.
One easyJet flight from Istanbul was forced to circle before diverting to East Midlands Airport. Other affected routes included services to Berlin, Venice, and Dalaman — with more than 2,500 passengers impacted.
Overall, 16 easyJet flights were delayed or cancelled due to visibility issues, creating additional strain for passengers already facing disrupted connections across the UK’s aviation network.
Industry and passenger reaction
Passengers expressed frustration at widespread cancellations, with many criticising poor communication from airlines during the chaos.
However, aviation experts have defended Heathrow’s rapid response, noting that runway safety inspections following tail strikes are mandatory and essential.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is expected to review the incident, examining potential contributing factors such as wind shear, pilot response, and mechanical performance.
What happens next
The investigation into the DHL A300’s 170 mph tail strike will focus on:
- Whether weather conditions contributed to loss of stability.
- The pilot’s approach speed and descent angle.
- The effectiveness of runway management and incident response protocols at Heathrow.
Both Heathrow and Manchester operations returned to normal by Monday morning, though airlines have advised passengers to check flight status before travelling.
Sources:
- The Independent – Heathrow airport disruption after 170 mph tail strike
- The Independent – Thousands of passengers hit by delays and diversions
- NationalWorld – Dramatic 170 mph tail strike at Heathrow causes chaos
- Simple Flying – DHL A300 tail strike at London Heathrow
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