The LATAM aircraft that suffered a tailstrike during takeoff in Italy will remain grounded for several more months due to the completion of repair tasks. The Boeing 777-300ER, registration PT-MUG, which prematurely took off from Milan last July after the pilots incorrectly entered data, has not performed commercial flights since returning from Italy after undergoing provisional repairs.
After five months of inactivity, the aircraft will remain at least three more months in LATAM’s hangar at Guarulhos International Airport to complete repairs, according to the company’s CEO, Jerome Cadier.
In an interview with Valor Econômico, the executive mentioned the various challenges LATAM is facing due to supply chain delays, both for new aircraft and for parts intended for planes already in operation.
Jerome explained that, in a pre-pandemic scenario, this type of repair on the 777 would take about three months, meaning the aircraft would have been back in service by last October. However, due to current supply chain issues, the timeline has been extended to March 2025, resulting in a total of eight months without operating commercial flights, representing a significant loss for the company.
According to our partner outlet in Brazil, AEROIN, this same 777 was involved in another incident in December 2018, when, during a flight between São Paulo and London, a short circuit occurred, forcing the Boeing to make an emergency landing in Confins. The aircraft was significantly overweight for landing, necessitating repairs that, at that time, took 40 days.
Here’s PT-MUG of LATAM (@LATAMAirlines) which had a tail strike at Milan Malpensa some days before. Currently, it is on its way back to Sao Paulo and seems like a new tail skid system is attached.
via @airwaysmagazine #airways #tailstrike #malpensa #latam pic.twitter.com/bOGtqD5E7P
— Shyam Vimal Kumar (@ShyamVimalKumar) July 14, 2024
