FRANKFURT — Several Lufthansa ground staff members were injured on Thursday after the nose landing gear of a Boeing 787 aircraft unexpectedly collapsed while the jet was parked at a gate at Frankfurt Airport, according to the airline and airport officials.
Lufthansa said passengers had not yet boarded the aircraft at the time of the incident. Crew members and ground personnel were on board when the failure occurred.
“Several staff members were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment,” a Lufthansa spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the airline is working with relevant authorities to determine the cause of the malfunction.
A Reuters photographer at the scene saw multiple emergency response vehicles surrounding the twin-engine widebody aircraft, which was partially resting on its fuselage after the collapse.
The aircraft was scheduled to operate Lufthansa flight LH450 to Los Angeles, departing at 12:45 p.m. local time (1045 GMT), when the incident occurred.
Lufthansa has not disclosed the number or severity of injuries, but confirmed that medical assistance was provided to affected personnel. The airline said it is cooperating with investigators as they examine the circumstances surrounding the ground incident.
The Boeing 787, commonly known as the Dreamliner, is operated by Lufthansa in its 787-9 variant as part of the airline’s ongoing fleet modernization program. The group has been gradually phasing out older aircraft in favor of more fuel-efficient models.
Aviation authorities in Germany are expected to review the incident as part of standard safety investigation procedures. No preliminary cause has been released, and Lufthansa has not indicated any impact on broader flight operations.
As of latest reports, no additional injuries or secondary incidents have been confirmed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
