21,000 flights. could a rough landing in 2001 have been its undoing? the flying public in order to be safe we need to know what caused this plane crash. the a-321, the tail can hit too sharp landing or takeoff. in 2001 that is just what happened to this a-321. despite the damage the plane was repaired. if it is done properly and done by a mechanic that is experienced and the procedures followed it shouldn t be an issue. air bus rigorously tests for just such a possibility. we go beyond the limit that with use in service by really putting the tail on the ground and we just slowly accelerate. the tests, planes are the with a special skid to prevent
just what happened to this a321. despite the damage, the plane was repaired. if it s done properly and done by a mechanic that s experienced and the procedure is followed, it shouldn t be an issue. reporter: airbus vigorously tests its planes for such a possibility. we go beyond the limit by putting the tail on the ground and slowly accelerate. reporter: for the tests, the planes are equipped with a special skid to prevent damage, shown in this airbus flight material. if it s too harsh, we can stress the repairs. reporter: but tail strikes can be deadly even years after the incident. august 1985 in japan, the deadliest single crash ever. a packed 747 slams into the side of a mountain leaving 520 people dead. it was a similar type of circumstance. they had a tail strike. the repair was made and then