On 14 July 2025, an Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR operating a scheduled passenger flight to Boston experienced a tail strike during landing on runway 22L, resulting in substantial aircraft damage. All 80 occupants were uninjured. The approach was conducted under ILS procedures in visual meteorological conditions.
The First Officer flew the aircraft to the final approach fix before transferring control to the Captain in accordance with land-and-hold-short (LAHSO) procedures. The approach was reported as stabilised at both 1,000 ft and 500 ft above ground level, with only minor glide path deviations corrected on short final.
Following initial touchdown, the aircraft experienced a slight bounce. As the aircraft descended again, the Captain applied additional back pressure on the control column. This resulted in a firm second touchdown, with pitch increasing rapidly. Flight data showed pitch rising from approximately 8° on initial contact to about 14° during the second touchdown, coinciding with ground contact.
Manufacturer guidance indicates that tail contact may occur at lower pitch attitudes when landing gear is compressed. It is therefore likely that the tail strike occurred during the second touchdown as the landing gear compressed, reducing available clearance.
The weather reported at BOS near the time of the accident included wind from 200° at 12 knots, visibility 10 miles, and a scattered cloud layer at 2,400 ft agl.
The investigation determined that the probable cause was the Captain’s decision to continue the landing after the bounce and the misapplication of pitch control inputs. A contributing factor was the presence of LAHSO, which may have introduced a degree of operational pressure to complete the landing.
Photo from the official report