Lufthansa staff injured after jet nose gear collapses at Frankfurt Airport

Several Lufthansa employees have been injured this Thursday June 4 after the nose landing gear of a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner collapsed while the aircraft was parked at a boarding gate at Frankfurt Airport. The incident occurred shortly after midday during pre-departure preparations for a long-haul flight to Los Angeles.

The aircraft fortunately had not yet begun boarding passengers, and only crew members and ground staff were on board at the time. Lufthansa confirmed that several staff were injured and were receiving medical treatment following the incident. External sources suggest that two of those were rushed to a nearby hospital. Emergency services attended the scene and airport operations at the gate were temporarily disrupted while the situation was secured.

What occurred during ground preparations

According to airline statements, the nose landing gear failed or retracted unexpectedly while the aircraft was on the ground. This caused the front section of the aircraft to drop onto its forward fuselage, it is currently unknown whether this was a human or mechanical error. Photographs from the scene showed emergency vehicles surrounding the aircraft as ground personnel responded.

Lufthansa has said they are working with relevant authorities and the aircraft manufacturer to determine the cause of the incident. The aircraft type involved, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, is part of the airline’s long-haul fleet used on intercontinental routes.

Injuries reported among crew and ground staff

Lufthansa confirmed that several employees were injured during the incident. The injured individuals included both cabin crew members and ground handling staff who were either on board the aircraft or in close proximity at the time of the collapse.

They were taken for medical treatment, although the airline has not released further details on the severity of their injuries. Airport emergency services responded immediately, and the area around the aircraft was secured while technical teams assessed the damage and ensured there were no further safety risks.

Video credit: FlightRadar on X

Aircraft remained on stand as investigation begins

The aircraft is expected to remain at Frankfurt Airport following the incident while engineers and investigators began examining the cause of the nose gear failure. Lufthansa and relevant aviation authorities have launched a formal investigation.

The Boeing 787-9 is designed with a dual-wheel nose landing gear assembly that supports the front of the aircraft during taxiing, take-off and landing. Failures of this system on the ground are rare, but they can result in the aircraft settling forward if structural support is lost.

Investigators are likely to examine the hydraulic systems, locking mechanisms, maintenance records and ground handling procedures to determine what led to the failure.

Disruption limited to gate area operations

The incident occurred at one of Frankfurt Airport’s main terminal gates, with operations in the immediate area temporarily affected. Other flights at the airport were not significantly disrupted, although ground handling activity around the aircraft was restricted while emergency and technical teams worked on site.

Frankfurt Airport is one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs and serves as a major base for Lufthansa’s long-haul network. Incidents involving parked aircraft are handled under established safety procedures designed to limit wider operational impact.

Aircraft type and operational context

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner involved in the incident is widely used by airlines for long-haul services due to its fuel efficiency and range. Lufthansa operates the aircraft on routes linking Germany with destinations in North America, Asia and other regions.

The aircraft was preparing for a scheduled departure to Los Angeles at the time of the incident. The flight was cancelled following the ground failure, and passengers were not affected directly as boarding had not commenced.

Investigation continues

Authorities and technical teams are continuing to investigate the cause of the nose landing gear failure. Lufthansa has stated that it is cooperating fully with the inquiry and will review any findings once the investigation is complete.

At this stage, no official conclusion has been reached regarding the cause of the incident, and further technical assessment is expected in the coming days.