Airbus A321 G-MARA was operating a night charter flight from Malaga, Spain to Manchester Airport, UK, with the co-pilot as the pilot flying (PF). The flight had been operated in accordance with company procedures and had been without incident until the landing. The landing flare was initiated slightly early and the aircraft settled into a ‘float’ at approximately 10 ft above the runway (radio height). Whilst in the ‘float’, the co-pilot’s sidestick briefly moved to fully forward then to fully aft. The aircraft reacted with a rapid nose-down pitch and touched down in a near flat attitude. A significant bounce occurred, which was controlled by the co-pilot; a second touchdown and rollout ensued The commander taxied the aircraft to the parking stand where it was shut down normally. Three passenger service unit oxygen masks had dropped from their stowages but no other effects of the landing were apparent and no injuries had occurred. An engineer, following the process in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), determined that no inspections were required as the relevant recorded parameters had not exceeded the stated threshold values. On the next flight, the flight crew were unable to retract the landing gear. Subsequent investigation of this defect identified internal damage to the nose landing gear and a bent proximity switch link rod. The nose landing gear was replaced and extensive inspections conducted before the aircraft was released to service.