A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 with up to 400 people on board yesterday flew on from Melbourne to Singapore despite being warned by air traffic controllers they believed it had struck its tail on the runway during takeoff.

The suspected tail strike led to the close of the main runway for 30 minutes while it was inspected by engineers, adding to widespread disruption of flights caused by wild weather in Melbourne which closed the cross runway.

Tail strikes can be one of the most dangerous events on takeoff, potentially damaging the structural integrity of an aircraft and even breaking it in two.

A Singapore Airlines spokesman confirmed Flight 238 had been warned by air traffic controllers when it took off at 11:23 a.m. from Tullamarine they had ­observed the tail of the aircraft ­apparently hitting the runway.

"Air traffic control reported a possible tail strike, and they contacted the crew," the spokesman said. "The pilot reported there was no indication of a tail strike, and flew on to Singapore, wher the aircraft would be inspected on ­arrival."

A spokesman for Airservices Australia, which runs the country's air traffic control system, said controllers had seen smoke or sparks or other indications of a tail strike when SQ238 took off. A Melbourne Airport spokeswoman said no evidence of runway debris was found. Singapore Airlines is understood to be of the view that the quality of the sensors on the 777 would have alerted pilots to a tail strike had one occurred.

In 2009 at Melbourne Airport, an Emirates Airbus A340-500 struck its tail three times, wiped out lights and navigation antennae at the end of the runway, and sustained AU$100 million damage as it barely cleared the airport boundary fence before returning to make an emergency landing.

A Qantas spokesman said yesterday's weather was the main cause of delays and cancellations.

Meanwhile, the NOAA Hurricane Hunters shared a video of their turbulent flight into the powerful Hurricane Matthew.