Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Nose Landing Gear Collapses in Frankfurt – Several Employees Injured

The affected aircraft is a Boeing 787-9 with the registration D-ABPQ and the christened name "Herne." According to information from the industry portal AeroTelegraph, the aircraft was only delivered to Lufthansa in January and has only been in scheduled service since this year. Lufthansa received its first Boeing 787-9 in 2022 and planned to acquire a total of 29 Dreamliners by the end of 2027.

The Affected Aircraft

The airline did not initially disclose the exact number of people injured or the severity of their injuries. A spokesperson only stated: "Several employees were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment." Technicians and rescue workers were on site. The airline has set up a crisis team, according to its own statements.

A video circulating online, published by the flight tracking service Flightradar24 on X among others, shows the nose of the aircraft suddenly dropping. Images on social media showed the Boeing Dreamliner lying on its belly in close proximity to a gate. The jet bridge was already connected to the aircraft.

Lufthansa Spokesperson: "Crisis Team Established"

In the video, the wheels of the nose landing gear collapse forward, and two flaps on the nose landing gear appear to break off. At the same time, it looks as if the engines of the long-haul aircraft are also touching the ground. Two employees can also be seen outside the aircraft in the video.

A baggage conveyor belt had been pushed up to the open aircraft at this time; the aircraft's door was jammed by the vehicle from above. According to AeroTelegraph and Hessischer Rundfunk, the fuselage in the front section was significantly damaged.

Flight LH 450 from Frankfurt to Los Angeles, scheduled for the day, was canceled. The airline confirmed this with the words: "Today's LH450 has been canceled." The exact number of affected passengers and their further care were initially unclear.

Cause Still Unclear – Technical Defect or Maintenance Error?

Lufthansa emphasized that the exact circumstances are still being investigated. "The exact circumstances are still being investigated, said a Lufthansa spokesperson in the afternoon." An investigation is being conducted together with the responsible authorities. It is unclear whether it was a technical defect or an error during maintenance work before departure.

The incident is reminiscent of a similar incident involving the same aircraft type. In 2021, a Boeing 787-9 at London Heathrow Airport experienced its nose landing gear collapsing. According to the investigations at the time, the cause was that the locking pin of the nose landing gear had been accidentally inserted into the wrong hole.

Comparison with Incident in London Heathrow 2021

The British aviation authority described the design of the nose landing gear locking mechanism as a potential source of error at the time. Whether there is a connection to the Frankfurt incident is the subject of ongoing investigations.

The Boeing 787-9 is primarily used by Lufthansa on long-haul routes. The affected aircraft "Herne" had only been in scheduled service since the beginning of the year. The airline had received its first aircraft of this type in 2022 and originally planned to expand the fleet to 29 Dreamliners by the end of 2027.

Frankfurt Airport, the hub of the Lufthansa Group, was affected by the incident at Terminal 1. The airline did not initially provide any information on possible impacts on other flight operations.

Impact on Flight Operations

The news of the incident spread on Thursday via the microblogging service X, where Flightradar24 shared a video, as well as through reporting by Hessischer Rundfunk, AeroTelegraph, and Deutschlandfunk.

Lufthansa announced that the affected employees would receive medical care and that the incident would be thoroughly investigated. Further information – particularly regarding the number and health status of the injured – was expected in the coming hours.