Full Breakdown
Lufthansa 787-9 Dreamliner Nose Gear Collapse at Frankfurt Airport
6/5/2026, 5:27:00 AM
Incident Overview
On 4 June 2026 at 12:45 p.m. local time, the nose landing gear of a Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (registration D-ABPQ, “Herne”) unexpectedly retracted while parked at Gate A15, Frankfurt Airport. The aircraft was preparing for flight LH450 to Los Angeles, scheduled to depart at 13:50. No passengers were on board; crew and ground staff were present. The gear failure caused the nose to strike the apron, injuring several employees and cancelling the flight.
Background & Prior Gear Failures
The 787 programme has faced production and quality-control problems since 2020, and a similar nose-gear collapse occurred on a British Airways 787-8 at Heathrow in June 2021. The programme also faced delivery pauses in 2021 and 2023 after regulators flagged fuselage bulkhead and tail-fitting concerns.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The 787-9 D-ABPQ, about one year old, is configured for 287 seats and was slated for a flight with roughly 250 passengers. Lufthansa operates 17 of the type, with 20 more on order.
Official Statements & Responses
Lufthansa said passengers had not yet boarded, several staff were injured and receiving medical treatment, and the airline is investigating with authorities. Boeing said it is aware of the incident and is supporting its customer. Investigators from the German BFU, Lufthansa Engineering and Boeing are examining the gear assembly and maintenance records.
Critical Perspectives
Former crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti called the event “very unusual” and said investigators will scrutinize every part of the nose-gear strut, noting that recent 787 production issues add a safety context.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources vary on the number of injured staff—some say “several,” others cite two cabin crew and additional ground workers, while one report mentions 13 crew on board. Aircraft age is described as “about a year old” or “four months in service,” and the cause of the collapse remains undetermined.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Passengers had not yet boarded,” — Lufthansa spokesperson
- “Several staff members were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment,” — Lufthansa spokesperson
- “We are currently investigating the exact circumstances with the relevant authorities.” — Lufthansa spokesperson
- “We’re aware of the incident and are supporting our customer,” — Boeing spokesperson
Impact and Next Steps
The cancellation displaced about 250 passengers, who were rebooked on other services. Lufthansa’s 787-9 fleet may face temporary grounding pending inspections, and regulators could issue airworthiness directives. Investigators will analyse the nose-gear, review maintenance logs and flight-data recordings, and keep D-ABPQ grounded for several weeks while repairs and certification are completed. The incident may prompt a review of nose-gear maintenance procedures across operators of the 787 type.
