Lufthansa Boeing 787 nose gear collapses at Frankfurt gate, several staff injured
The nose gear of a Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner retracted unexpectedly while parked at a Frankfurt airport gate on Thursday, injuring several crew and ground staff and forcing the cancellation of flight LH450 to Los Angeles.
The incident
A Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered D-ABPQ, suffered a nose landing gear collapse at Frankfurt Airport on Thursday, 4 June 2026. The incident occurred around 12:45 local time (10:45 GMT) while the aircraft was parked at a boarding gate and undergoing pre-departure preparations. No passengers had yet boarded; only crew members and ground staff were on the aircraft at the time.
The aircraft's nose landing gear unexpectedly retracted while it was parked.
Video footage circulating on social media shows the aircraft's nose dropping suddenly to the ground, leaving the widebody jet tilted forward near the boarding bridge. Emergency vehicles were photographed surrounding the aircraft, which came to rest partly on its belly.
Casualties and response
Lufthansa confirmed that several employees were injured and are receiving medical treatment. The company has not specified the number or severity of injuries, though Italian outlet il Giornale reported that none appeared to be serious. A Reuters photographer saw multiple emergency vehicles at the scene.
Several employees were injured and are currently receiving medical attention.
The flight, designated LH450 and bound for Los Angeles, was cancelled. Flightradar24 noted that the aircraft sustained significant damage. Lufthansa has activated a crisis unit to investigate the exact circumstances alongside relevant authorities.
The aircraft
The Boeing 787-9 involved, named after the German city of Herne, was built in 2025 and entered service with Lufthansa in February 2026, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano. Other sources, including La Stampa and Novinky, report delivery in January 2026. The aircraft can accommodate up to 440 passengers in three classes and has a range of approximately 15,000 kilometres.
The 787 is a relatively new addition to Lufthansa's fleet, part of a broader plan to phase out less efficient jets and simplify operations. German tabloid Bild reported that the 787's landing gear is manufactured by Safran Landing Systems, comprising two main units with four wheels each and a two-wheel nose gear.
Investigation underway
Lufthansa and the relevant authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the gear failure. It remains unclear whether the collapse resulted from a mechanical fault or human error. Airport operator Fraport confirmed the incident, describing it as a "malfunction" involving the German carrier's aircraft.
We are currently investigating the exact circumstances with the relevant authorities.
The investigation will likely examine both the aircraft's maintenance history and the ground handling procedures in place at the time of the collapse.
