Boeing 777 QRH states as follows.
Tail strike message ( Eicas message ) is not shown :
Continue to operate normally. Fuselage contact without activation of the tail strike message indicates structural integrity is intact. The aircraft can pressurize normally.
They continued in accordance with laid down procedures, but of course the tail strike should not have happened in the first place... It was not a courageous decision..but an expected decision... maybe they could have explained in clearer terms to atc so as not to be perceived as reckless...
Last edited by millionaire; 11th Oct 2016 at 04:52.
Reason: typo