Landing Gear Collapse
Lufthansa Boeing 787's Landing Gear Collapses While Parked at Frankfurt Airport
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operated by Lufthansa suffered a nose landing gear collapse while parked at a departure gate in Frankfurt Airport on June 4, 2026. The front of the aircraft dropped onto the tarmac, injuring several ground staff and forcing the cancellation of flight LH450, a scheduled service to Los Angeles carrying around 250–290 passengers. La Opinión de Zamora reported the plane was damaged while stationary at the gate.
The aircraft, registered D-ABPQ and nicknamed "Herne," had only entered Lufthansa service on February 13, 2026 — less than five months before the incident. It was equipped with the airline's new premium Allegris cabin interior, a multi-million euro investment. No passengers were on board when the nose gear retracted at approximately 12:45 PM local time.
Nose Gear Retracts While Aircraft Sits on Ground
At 12:45 PM, the nose landing gear on D-ABPQ unexpectedly retracted while the jet was parked at Terminal 1. The front fuselage dropped and struck the tarmac. Airport CCTV footage reportedly shows ground staff jumping back as the nose fell. Emergency services arrived within minutes. Between three and five employees sustained injuries, described as mostly minor bruises and shock, according to local German media reports.
Lufthansa confirmed the event in an official statement: "While parked, the aircraft's nose gear unexpectedly retracted. Several employees sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention. We are currently investigating the exact circumstances." Fraport AG, the airport operator, confirmed the collapse happened on the apron and said broader airport operations were largely unaffected.
A 2021 British Airways Crash Offers a Troubling Parallel
The incident closely mirrors a June 18, 2021 collapse involving a British Airways 787-8 (registration G-ZBJB) at London Heathrow. In that case, the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch found that a maintenance technician had inserted a downlock pin into the wrong hole. When the cockpit lever was moved to the "UP" position during a maintenance test, the hydraulic system retracted the gear. The aircraft's nose dropped to the ground in nearly identical fashion.
Aviation analysts from AeroTelegraph and Simple Flying suggest the Frankfurt collapse may also point to human error rather than a design flaw. Modern landing gear cannot retract under the aircraft's weight unless a specific sequence of overrides or mistakes — such as incorrectly placed ground-lock pins — occurs first. Germany's federal aircraft accident investigation bureau, the BFU, has been notified and is expected to lead the technical inquiry. Safran Landing Systems, which manufactures the 787's landing gear, is also anticipated to join the investigation.
Composite Fuselage Makes Repairs Costly and Slow
Unlike traditional aluminum jets, the 787 Dreamliner is built largely from carbon fiber composite materials. Experts warn that these materials are harder to repair after a sudden impact. If the structural attachment points for the nose gear are cracked, the aircraft could be grounded for months. The list price of a 787-9 is approximately $295 million, and repair costs alone could run into several million euros.
The damage profile includes the nose gear doors, lower forward fuselage skin, and potential hard-contact damage to the undersides of both General Electric GEnx-1B engines. With D-ABPQ out of service, Lufthansa may need to redeploy older Airbus A340-600 jets on the Frankfurt–Los Angeles route, burning significantly more fuel per flight. Germany's civil aviation authority, the LBA, is expected to mandate a fleet-wide inspection of landing gear locking procedures across Lufthansa's roughly 12 Boeing 787-9s.
Boeing's Reputation Takes Another Public Hit
Social media footage of the nearly new "Herne" jet resting on its nose spread quickly online, renewing criticism of Boeing's quality control. Industry veterans, however, caution against drawing quick conclusions. Most point toward a likely maintenance or ground-handling error rather than a manufacturing defect. Boeing said it is "aware of the incident" and in contact with Lufthansa but has not issued a detailed technical statement.
Lufthansa is framing the event as a one-off incident. But analysts are asking whether the airline's rapid intake of new 787s has put pressure on ground crews still learning the specific landing gear locking procedures required by the Dreamliner. The BFU investigation is expected to answer that question. Until then, the brand-new jet — just 4.5 months in service — remains grounded on the Frankfurt apron.
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