Aviation safety officials in Germany have initiated a formal investigation following the failure of front landing gear on a Boeing 787 aircraft that occurred Thursday while the plane was stationed at Frankfurt airport, a spokesperson for the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation confirmed.
The investigation team expects to release a preliminary report within approximately eight weeks, with a comprehensive final report anticipated in roughly one year, the spokesperson stated.
Lufthansa, the airline operating the aircraft, confirmed that multiple crew members and ground personnel sustained minor injuries and required hospitalization following the incident. Two Lufthansa workers who received brief hospital treatment on Thursday were discharged the same day.
The airline indicated that the affected Boeing 787-9 aircraft will undergo repairs once the investigation concludes.
No passengers had boarded the plane when the incident took place.
The nose gear collapse happened at 12:45 p.m. (1045 GMT) on Thursday, affecting a flight scheduled to travel to Los Angeles operating as flight LH450.
The Boeing 787-9 represents a recent fleet addition for the Lufthansa Group, which has announced plans to systematically retire older, less fuel-efficient aircraft while streamlining its overall fleet composition.
