(Thanks, E. :)

Reader Eldon Warman writes:

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Re: Reader: 'Sinai Russian airliner crash - he....

I agree that such damage could result in a tail separation. I believe Japan Airlines lost a Boeing 747 in the mid 1970s as a result tail strike on a previous landing, causing damage to the pressure bulkhead at the back of the fuselage.

Also, I was a copilot on a B-747 that had a tail strike by a new captain on the type aircraft by over-rotation on landing. That was in the late 1970s. It was a charter proceeding on to Hawaii. The outbound flight engineer failed to spot the damage to the bulkhead, and we, the incoming crew was not aware that the strike had happened. The aircraft proceeded on to Hawaii and encountered strong air turbulence, but landed safely in Honolulu. The inspecting mechanic discovered the damage there, and the aircraft was repaired before being declared airworthy. A very close call.

However, the evidence of an explosion onboard and foreign pieces within the wreckage nullifies the tail strike theory. Also, the owner of the aircraft states that the strike damage was repaired and had been re-inspected several times after.

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