Frankfurt, Germany – A routine international departure turned into a scene of chaos and emergency response on Thursday when a Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner suffered a catastrophic nose gear collapse while parked at the gate at Frankfurt Airport. The incident, which occurred just minutes before passengers were scheduled to board, left several crew members and ground staff injured and raised fresh questions about the flagship aircraft’s ground safety.
The aircraft, registered as D-ABPQ and named “Herne,” was preparing to operate Flight LH450 to Los Angeles. According to Lufthansa officials, the event unfolded at approximately 12:45 PM local time (1045 GMT). The airline confirmed that while no passengers were on board at the time, there were 13 crew members present, along with several ground service personnel, inside the cabin or working directly with the aircraft.
Video footage captured by Flightradar24 and circulated on social media shows the terrifying moment the front landing gear gave way without warning. The footage shows the nose of the wide-body jet suddenly lurching downward several meters, slamming onto the tarmac. The doors to the nose gear bay appear to break off upon impact with the pavement. A ground crew member wearing a high-visibility vest is seen standing perilously close to the nose cone, narrowly jumping backward to avoid being crushed by the falling fuselage.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at Terminal 1, surrounding the stricken jet. Lufthansa confirmed that several employees sustained injuries in the sudden drop, with at least two crew members requiring transport to local hospitals for further treatment. Airport operations saw minor disruptions as emergency crews secured the area, but the airport remained largely operational despite the dramatic scene.
A “Very Unusual” Failure
Aviation experts were quick to note the rarity of such an event occurring while an aircraft is stationary. Landing gear failures typically happen during the high-stress moments of takeoff or landing, not while a plane is parked at a gate.
“The fact that the nose gear collapsed while the aircraft was at a standstill is very unusual,” Jeff Guzzetti, a former U.S. federal aviation crash investigator, told reporters. Guzzetti suggested that investigators will likely examine “every square inch” of the landing gear strut and review maintenance records to determine if a mechanical failure, prior damage, or an issue with locking pins was at fault.
The incident recalls a similar event at London’s Heathrow Airport in 2021 involving a different Boeing 787. In that case, investigators found that a locking pin had been inserted into the wrong position during maintenance, allowing the gear to retract unexpectedly.
Lufthansa has launched an internal investigation alongside German aviation authorities. The airline stated they are working to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collapse of the Dreamliner’s nose gear. Boeing also released a statement saying the manufacturer is “aware of the incident” and is supporting its customer, though the company declined to provide further technical details.
The aircraft involved is a relatively new addition to the Lufthansa fleet, having been delivered just over a year ago and having operated only 137 flights prior to the accident. Flight LH450 to Los Angeles was subsequently canceled, and the aircraft has been grounded for inspection and repairs.