THY B738 at Istanbul on May 4th 2014, tail scrape on departure

A THY Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration TC-JVC performing flight TK-587 from Istanbul (Turkey) to Kano (Nigeria) with 93 passengers, departed one of Istanbul Ataturk Airport's runways 35 at about 18:37L (15:37Z), during takeoff rotation the tail of the aircraft contacted the runway surface however. The crew climbed the aircraft to 7000 feet, burned off fuel and returned to Ataturk Airport for a safe landing about 55 minutes after departure.

A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration TC-JHT reached Kano with a delay of 3 hours.

The occurrence aircraft resumed service about 4 hours after landing.

The airline described confirmed the tail of the aircraft contacted the runway surface, the aircraft suffered very minor damage to the tail skid assembly only.

Metars:

LTBA 041650Z 13007KT 100V160 9999 FEW025TCU SCT040 21/13 Q1003 NOSIG

LTBA 041620Z 11006KT 080V160 9999 FEW025TCU SCT040 22/13 Q1003 NOSIG

LTBA 041550Z 10005KT 070V160 9999 FEW025TCU SCT040 21/12 Q1003 NOSIG

LTBA 041520Z 10005KT 080V140 CAVOK 21/13 Q1003 NOSIG

LTBA 041450Z 12005KT 080V170 9999 FEW040 22/12 Q1003 NOSIG

LTBA 041420Z 13005G15KT 060V190 9999 FEW040 22/12 Q1004 NOSIG

LTBA 041350Z 13006KT 090V160 9999 FEW041 21/12 Q1004 NOSIG