A brand new Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner originally bound for Los Angeles has been left resting on its nose at Frankfurt Airport.
This came after its nose landing gear unexpectedly retracted while the aircraft was parked at the gate, injuring several staff members and forcing the cancellation of a long-haul flight to Los Angeles.
What Happened in Frankfurt?
On Thursday 4 June 2026, at approximately 12:45 p.m. local time, the nose landing gear of a Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner suddenly gave way while the aircraft was parked at Gate A15 at Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
According to reports, all gear doors opened before the nose gear retracted, causing the front of the aircraft to drop violently to the ground.
The rear fuselage tilted upward as the aircraft came to rest on its nose, with dramatic photographs and airport CCTV footage quickly circulating on social media showing the full scale of the incident.
The aircraft was at the time being prepared to operate Lufthansa flight LH450, a scheduled long-haul service from Frankfurt to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with a planned departure time of 13:50 local.
No passengers had boarded at the point of the collapse, though crew members and ground handling staff were present on and around the aircraft.
Injuries and Airline Response
Lufthansa confirmed that several employees sustained injuries as a result of the incident. Among those hurt were two cabin crew members and a number of ground handling staff, all of whom were taken to hospital for evaluation and treatment.
The airline stated that the injured employees were receiving medical attention and did not initially specify the severity of their injuries, though early indications suggest injuries were not life threatening.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, Lufthansa said, as per @aviationbrk on X:
“Several staff members were injured during an incident on the ground at Frankfurt Airport at 12:45 p.m. today.”
“Passengers had not yet boarded; crew members and ground staff were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident.”
“We are currently investigating the exact circumstances with the relevant authorities.”
Flight LH450 was cancelled as a direct result.
With D-ABPQ configured for 287 passengers in Lufthansa’s Allegris cabin layout, rebooking teams faced the significant task of accommodating all affected travellers on alternative services.
About the Aircraft Due to Fly to Los Angeles…
The aircraft involved, registered D-ABPQ and named “Herne,” is one of Lufthansa’s newest widebody jets.
Built at Boeing’s production facility in Charleston, South Carolina, the aircraft rolled off the line with Manufacturer Serial Number 66827 and Line Number 1196.
It took its first flight on 16 April 2025 and was formally delivered to Lufthansa on 17 January 2026, having been ferried across the Atlantic from Paine Field (PAE) to Frankfurt (FRA) between 17 and 18 January 2026.
D-ABPQ entered commercial service on 13 February 2026, meaning it had been flying passengers for less than four months at the time of the incident.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, the aircraft features Lufthansa’s flagship Allegris long-haul cabin product, though unlike some Lufthansa 787s operating from other hubs, it does not carry a First Class configuration.
In its short time in service, the jet had already operated routes to destinations including Delhi, Toronto and Rio de Janeiro, accumulating 137 flights before being grounded.
What Comes Next Following The Incident on the Los Angeles Flight?
The cause of the collapse is as yet unknown, and Lufthansa has stated it is working with the relevant authorities to investigate the exact circumstances.
The incident draws comparisons to a similar event in June 2021 involving a British Airways Boeing 787-8 at London Heathrow, where the nose gear collapsed during ground maintenance preparations.
That investigation ultimately determined that a nose landing gear downlock pin had been inadvertently inserted into the incorrect hole in the assembly, preventing the gear from locking in the down position.
Given the composite construction of the Boeing 787’s fuselage, the aircraft is expected to be out of service for a significant period while engineers assess the full extent of the structural damage.
The airframe status has already been listed as parked, and a lengthy repair process is widely anticipated.
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