Frankfurt, Germany: A Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner suffered a nose landing gear collapse while parked at a gate at Frankfurt Airport on June 4, 2026, injuring several crew members and ground staff and forcing the cancellation of a scheduled flight to Los Angeles.
The aircraft involved was Lufthansa flight LH450 from Frankfurt to Los Angeles, operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner D-ABPQ, named “Herne.” The incident occurred at approximately 12:45 p.m. local time while the aircraft was being prepared for departure and was still connected to the passenger boarding bridge.
According to Lufthansa, passengers had not yet boarded the aircraft when the collapse occurred. However, crew members and ground personnel were onboard carrying out pre-departure preparations. Several employees sustained injuries and received medical treatment. The airline has not disclosed the exact number of injured personnel or the severity of their injuries.
Video footage captured by airport cameras and widely circulated on social media shows the aircraft’s nose suddenly dropping to the ground as the forward landing gear unexpectedly folded. Emergency vehicles responded quickly and surrounded the aircraft shortly after the incident.
Images from the scene indicate substantial damage to the nose section of the Dreamliner. The aircraft came to rest with its forward fuselage on the apron after the nose landing gear collapsed. The impact reportedly damaged the nose gear bay doors and surrounding structural components. Some reports also suggested that parts of the aircraft’s lower fuselage and associated structures may have contacted the ground during the collapse.
The Boeing 787-9 involved is one of Lufthansa’s newest long-haul aircraft. Flight-tracking data shows the aircraft was delivered to Lufthansa in January 2025 and entered commercial service in February 2025. Since entering service, it had completed approximately 137 flights before the incident.
Lufthansa confirmed that an investigation has been launched in coordination with the relevant authorities. Boeing stated that it is aware of the event and is supporting the airline during the investigation.
At present, investigators have not determined the cause of the collapse. Aviation experts note that a nose landing gear failure while an aircraft is stationary at a gate is extremely uncommon. The investigation is expected to focus on maintenance records, landing gear system components, hydraulic systems, and any maintenance procedures that may have been conducted before departure.
Lufthansa aircraft appear to show the nose gear folding forward rather than collapsing under landing loads, leading to a possibility that an unintended gear retraction event could have occurred. Nevertheless, investigators have not confirmed any such scenario, and the exact sequence of events remains under examination.
The scheduled Los Angeles service was cancelled as investigators began examining the aircraft and gathering evidence to determine what caused the unexpected failure. Lufthansa said it is continuing to work with authorities to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
