FRANKFURT, Germany — A German airline confirmed Thursday that multiple workers sustained injuries when a Boeing aircraft’s front landing gear suddenly collapsed while the plane was stationed at an airport gate.
The malfunction occurred as the 787-9 Dreamliner sat parked with only crew and ground personnel aboard, prior to passenger boarding for a scheduled departure from Frankfurt to Los Angeles. Officials described the gear retraction as happening without warning, sending the aircraft’s nose plummeting several meters to the tarmac and damaging the gear compartment doors. The Los Angeles flight was subsequently scrapped.
“Several employees were injured and are currently receiving medical attention,” Lufthansa said, adding that it and relevant authorities were investigating the circumstances of the incident.
According to aviation tracking data from Flightradar24, the affected 787-9 aircraft is approximately one year old.
In a Thursday email response, Boeing acknowledged being “aware of the incident” and stated the company is “supporting our customer.”
Footage captured at the location showed the wide-body aircraft’s front wheels sliding forward as the nose section dropped multiple meters, with a nearby ground worker quickly moving to safety.
The gear bay doors separated from the aircraft when the nose made contact with the ground.
A similar occurrence happened in 2021 at London’s Heathrow Airport involving a Boeing 787’s nose landing system. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch determined that during maintenance operations on a 787-8, the nose gear retracted while testing was underway, causing the aircraft’s front section to contact the ground. Investigators concluded that a safety pin meant to prevent retraction had been placed incorrectly, enabling the gear to fold despite protective mechanisms intended to maintain extension.
