A couple of days ago, I covered a bizarre incident at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), where a Lufthansa Dreamliner had a gear collapse at its gate. While it’ll take some time for a full investigation to be performed, we now have some clues as to what may have caused this…
In this post:
Lufthansa Boeing 787 nose gear collapses at gate
On Thursday, June 4, 2026, a Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 suffered a nose gear collapse at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The plane in question has the registration code D-ABPQ, and it’s a new Dreamliner with Allegris interiors.
There’s also an airport CCTV video of the collapse happening.
As you can see, at the time of the incident, the unit load device (ULD) was attached to the forward right cargo hold, along with the two jet bridges being pulled up to the two forward left doors. You can also see the landing gear panel ripped off.
This plane just entered long haul service with Lufthansa on February 13, 2026, so it has been flying for under four months. The plane had landed in Frankfurt at around 9AM on Thursday morning, after operating an overnight flight from Austin (AUS). Hours later, the plane was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles (LAX), operating as flight LH450. However, as you’d expect, the flight was canceled (if you were booked on the flight, don’t forget to claim EC261, if eligible!).
Unfortunately there were some minor injuries among both the onboard crew (as the outbound crew had already boarded) and ground staff, but it’s my understanding that no one was seriously injured. Thank goodness, because as you can see in the CCTV footage, someone was very close to the gear when it collapsed, so this could’ve had a very different ending.
Presumably this plane will be out of service for quite some time. Talk about bad timing, as we just start to get into the peak summer travel period. For what it’s worth, the plane has already been moved — fuel was removed from the aircraft to make it lighter, then it was manually lifted up, then the nose gear was extended, and the plane was able to be towed to a maintenance hangar.
What caused this Dreamliner nose landing gear collapse?
The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has launched a probe into the accident, so it’ll take some time for us to conclusively find out what happened. However, we do have some clues.
The first thing worth mentioning is that this incident looks mighty similar to something that happened in June 2021, where the nose landing gear collapsed on a British Airways Boeing 787-8.
An investigation later determined how that happened:
- While the plane was being loaded with cargo, a procedure was being carried out with regards to some deferred maintenance
- The procedure required the cockpit landing gear selection lever to be cycled with hydraulic power applied to the aircraft
- To prevent the landing gear from retracting, the procedure required pins to be inserted into the nose and main landing gear downlocks
- The nose landing gear downlock pin was accidentally inserted into the wrong hole — it was put into the apex pin bore, adjacent to the correct location
- As a result, when the landing gear selector was cycled, the nose landing gear retracted
For what it’s worth, it took around five months for that plane to return to service, so I’d expect this Lufthansa Dreamliner to be grounded for quite some time as well.
That brings us to the clue as to what might’ve happened. The website aero.de reports that the evening before the incident, a maintenance request was filed for the aircraft, based on an error message, which read “MLG DOOR NORM CLOSE SOL L WITH MM: …”
So this tells us that some maintenance was likely being performed on the aircraft. “MLG” stands for “main landing gear,” so it doesn’t explain why the nose landing gear collapsed. However, it sure suggests that some maintenance may have been performed at the gate, and that makes it sound eerily similar to the British Airways situation.
Bottom line
On Thursday, Lufthansa Boeing 787 suffered a mysterious forward gear collapse at a gate at Frankfurt Airport, prior to a flight to Los Angeles. The plane reportedly had a landing gear maintenance issue that might’ve been troubleshooted by technicians, and somehow that ended with the gear collapsing.
This scene looks very similar to a 2021 incident involving a British Airways 787, though it’s anyone’s guess how similar the causes are.
What do you make of this Lufthansa 787 gear collapse situation?
@Ben: "(if you were booked on the flight, don’t forget to claim EC261, if eligible!)"
Who would not be eligible?
This wouldn’t be the first time someone inserted their pin into the wrong hole.
Perhaps the better Title for this article is not "Collapse" but "Retracted?"
Issuing a service bulletin won't prevent a dumb one from inserting into the wrong hole . (That's what she said.)
Thank you for the update Ben.
N.B. Guest and Diamond!
Very interesting to see how much quality control work Boeing does. Since the two disasters i am still avoiding Boeing planes. If it's Boeing, I am not goin'...
can you show us the report that confirms that this was Boeing's error and not the operator (LH's)?
I hope you didn't break any bones jumping to your premature conclusions
Quoting Tim Dunn:
„Given [Boeings] track record on [aircraft] manufacturing, I am laying this at [Boeing‘s] feet […].“
and yet evidence, as Ben laid out, is that this was not Boeing's problem but operator error
Will you retract your statement?
Walter, Wayne or whatever ….
One might be best advised to stick to shepherding your Campus flock, through the turbulence of the supernatural, rather than straying into an area of commercial aviation engineering which you quite obviously know nothing about …. Yes?
Will Lil Timmy in turn retract your statements about UA flying 739s EWR/LAX?
Ugh, that's painful to watch (video). I'd expect a fair amount of damage (plus needing to inspect and certify everything). Ugh.
I was under the impression that this website was something to do with civil aviation and visited by ‘aviation geeks’, whatever they are? Yet nobody has twigged that the System Integrator and OEM for the landing gear was/is Safran Landing Systems, France.
The responsible for the design, development and manufacture of the landing gear was outsourced by Boeing to Safran. The gear comprises of components sourced from various countries; i.e. France, England, Canada, Mexico and...
I was under the impression that this website was something to do with civil aviation and visited by ‘aviation geeks’, whatever they are? Yet nobody has twigged that the System Integrator and OEM for the landing gear was/is Safran Landing Systems, France.
The responsible for the design, development and manufacture of the landing gear was outsourced by Boeing to Safran. The gear comprises of components sourced from various countries; i.e. France, England, Canada, Mexico and China. Assembly is carried out in the U.S. and fitted to the airframe by Boeing.
For once Boeing can hardly be held accountable for this incident.
And who exactly gives the order to Safran? The order, that includes exactly how the landing gear has to be made?
So yeah, Boeing is responsible. And so is Safran.
Jorgje, before you blow off at me, please read my post again.
Ok! Now tell me what you do not understand about the words: “The responsibility for the design, development and manufacture of the landing gear was outsourced by Boeing to Safran”.
It is my understanding that Boeing had nothing to do with anything other than to place an order with Safran for X sets of landing gear. The completed wheel station sets...
Jorgje, before you blow off at me, please read my post again.
Ok! Now tell me what you do not understand about the words: “The responsibility for the design, development and manufacture of the landing gear was outsourced by Boeing to Safran”.
It is my understanding that Boeing had nothing to do with anything other than to place an order with Safran for X sets of landing gear. The completed wheel station sets are then to be fitted by Boeing.
Boeing do not tell every component manufacturer how to design and manufacture individual components. An aircraft is just like a car, a train or a boat, ‘bits of this and bits of that’ all cobbled together the make the finish article.
Your apology will be welcome, alternatively, if you can provide proof that Boeing instructed Safran: “Exactly how the landing gear has to be made”, then I will of course apologise to you, yes?
As an aircraft manufacturer, you may outsource certain tasks, but you cannot outsource responsibility. The manufacturer will remain responsible for the quality and safety of their product.
Quite so Mike …. my oversight.
What I find quite interesting. FRA-LAX is a massive route for LH, which use to fly double daily 744s, A340s, a mix of 380s and 748s. I know the A380 is now via MUC, but it has rosted on FRA-LAX recently.
Now a 787 is what is scheduled for LH450? - plus a week before the World Cup kicks off in LA? - I know its a better seat in J, but WOW.
Germans...
What I find quite interesting. FRA-LAX is a massive route for LH, which use to fly double daily 744s, A340s, a mix of 380s and 748s. I know the A380 is now via MUC, but it has rosted on FRA-LAX recently.
Now a 787 is what is scheduled for LH450? - plus a week before the World Cup kicks off in LA? - I know its a better seat in J, but WOW.
Germans and the World Cup!?.
Not just LA
FRA - JFK and EWR was 4x daily total, now down one daily flight to JFK. 2x JFK nd 1x EWR - and the world cup also plays in the NYC area.
I think this is worthy of a post, the schedule pull-down of LH by flights and aircraft equipment to the USA. I wonder if there is a similar pattern at BA, AF, KL and others?
It doesn’t have much to do with Germans and the World Cup. More with Americans and their current administration. Demand for travel to the US is down by roughly 30% in Germany and there is much less interest in the World Cup this time than usual, which may also be due to the fact that because of the time difference most people will not be able to watch the matches live which removes most of the fun.
Given LH's track record on seat manufacturing, I am laying this at their feet and not Boeing's.
How is Delta‘s track record on seat manufacturing?
What a stupid statement from Walter Mitty Dunn.
Neither LH, nor any other carrier that I know of, have a “Track record on seat MANUFACTURING”.
If Walter Mitty Dunn thinks that LH manufacturers “Seats”, then he deserves the daily bumbo prize. What a numpty Walter!
Quoting Tim Dunn:
„I hope you didn't break any bones jumping to your premature conclusions“
„Given [Boeings] track record on [aircraft] manufacturing, I am laying this at [Boeing‘s] feet […].“
'What do I make of it?' Likely the same as everyone else. There was a component failure and an investigation will be published with the cause and any contributing factors. Fairly straight forward, don't you think?
This is exactly what happened when they put Homer Simpson in as a pilot.
this i also not the place and time to bitch about airbus.
While not knowing the cause, I think this plane has a carbon composite fuselage and is subject to extensive repairs from hard landings. Not sure if a gear collapse belly flop on the apron counts, but could be really expensive.
OMG! All you know it alls! The plane just broke! Simple. Now fix it.
Lucky it happened at the gate and not while landing.
To state in your article „Make sure you claim your compensation“ before you even write and think about possible injuries, that’s a new low Ben !!!
What is wrong with you people these days? All about ME ME ME all the time !!!!! No wonder the world has come to what it is ! Sad. I would have expected different from you !
@ Norddeutscher -- I mentioned both points, though? The two aren't mutually exclusive. I simply mentioned the compensation point first because it was in the context of the flight to LAX being canceled.
He’s just trying to help his readers. We all appreciate his assistance, expertise and thoughtfulness.
But for you? Geh weg!
This comment section just shows the best many of you know about aviation is how to get on a plane and not much else.
The only way a Dreamliner can do this is if it’s undergoing landing gear maintenance and the pin that locks the gears from collapsing has not been put in the correct hole and if it’s not when raising the landing gear during said test. It will actually go up because the...
This comment section just shows the best many of you know about aviation is how to get on a plane and not much else.
The only way a Dreamliner can do this is if it’s undergoing landing gear maintenance and the pin that locks the gears from collapsing has not been put in the correct hole and if it’s not when raising the landing gear during said test. It will actually go up because the ground measure that prevents landing gears from responding on the ground has been overridden in order to test the fix.
It’s happened before on Dreamliners. Last was in 2021 on a BA Boeing 787-8. You can tell that the gear is undergoing maintenance seeing as the landing gear doors are open.
Aren't landing gear doors open at all times when the landing gear is deployed???
Actually no. With the landing gear selected down, the doors open,
gear extends & then doors close behind it.
For ground maintenance, a relief valve or switch can open the doors for access.
@Opus - Please take your holier than thou attitude somewhere else. This is a miles&points blog, not a mechanical engineering forum.
Thank You
Then miles&points boys should stick to talking about that and not saying rubbish about stuff they don’t know about.
There’s nothing “holier than thou” about my message. It’s very basic, if one doesn’t know then say you don’t know , Don’t say rubbish so confidently which is a lot of what is going on in this comment section
By your reasoning Jake, all of you “Miles & points blog” readers ought to stop commenting upon any other topic, yes?
If you personally do not know the difference between a screw and a driver, then perhaps you need to pin back your ears so that you might learn something useful, yes?
Every day is a school day for those willing to read, look and listen, don’t you know!
I'm sick of these hit pieces about Boeing and the planes having problems while no one talks about Airbus and their shoddy quality.
Tu quoque!
One person once claimed A350-1000 is the GOAT.
Point being? This story should not be covered? Should only be covered while telling an Airbus f/u at the same time?
The internet is like a sword fight, you need to think first, before you move.
How is it a "hit piece"? It's a Boeing aircraft, and the company is going to be mentioned in news reports about this accident, even if it wasn't a Boeing employee or manufacturing defect that caused it.
Boeing Models 787, 737-M remain poor us-building quality.
the new 777 I will never ever sit in early....
Boeing Models 787, 733-M remain poor us-building quality.
the new 777 I will never ever sit in early....
You can just say you don’t know what happened instead of blaming Boeing for what isn’t their fault. The lock pin used for landing gear maintenance was not used. The plane collapsed because the landing gear toggle was triggered to test a fix.
"At that time, Boeing had already issued a warning regarding its own design and recommended sealing the incorrect hole with a plug to prevent confusion."
that is back to 2021...come on boeing with this poor reputation in recent years..."design mistake"...they cant even draw!
First, good to see that the guy standing right next to it didn't get injured.
Second, why the hell put several holes where the same pin apparently fits right next to one that is so critical? Sounds like poor design to me. Just make that pin a different shape and colour and make the hole match. Most people already learn in kindergarten how to do that, but apparently it's rocket science for Boeing engineers....
First, good to see that the guy standing right next to it didn't get injured.
Second, why the hell put several holes where the same pin apparently fits right next to one that is so critical? Sounds like poor design to me. Just make that pin a different shape and colour and make the hole match. Most people already learn in kindergarten how to do that, but apparently it's rocket science for Boeing engineers. We don't know if it's the cause here, yet, but if it happened, then it's really telling that it already happened twice. Anyway, we'll see this bird again in half a year or so. :)
There are 1100 787s in service. This has happened 5 times. How about you focus on your job. The holes are clearly labelled and Boeing has made it clear several times.
Why won’t you pay attention to what you’re doing? If you can’t why work in such a critical industry that needs full attention.
By the stats most people do but then we have to blame Boeing because somebody did not pay attention in class. A joke
Your comment is a very good example of the Dunning-Krugger curve :)
"It illustrates that people with minimal knowledge often possess exaggerated confidence..."
I have always had difficulty with the wrong hole.
Boeing, what else
Were 2 people seating together in the Allegris F middle suite?
On a serious note, the ground staff was so lucky. I'm happy to see that, based on the footage, nobody was injured. (And the 787 doesn't have an F cabin)
Well, this particular 787 did get F'd.
More like Allegris F'ed up, to be honest.
Gaaat daaayum… that’s bad. Hope everyone is alright. (Looks like maximum EU261 compensation, and rebooking or refunds, unless they claim ‘extraordinary circumstances,’ but it sure seems like failure by the airline to properly maintain their aircraft… not ‘the weather’ or whatever excuse.)
Disagree ... The airline didn't force the manufacturers' engineering . The pax assume the risk of a delayed flight because of these extraordinary circumstances of the plane's collapse . Likely similar outcome if an FA collapsed due to unrequited romanticism .
Bah! Alert, you're wrong, but you're funny.
Looks like Homer is getting another free trip anywhere in the USA (except Alaska and Hawaii).
“…the freak states.” LOL
"New" plane implies it's new from the factory. Flying for almost four months reduces (but doesn't eliminate) the possibility of a production flaw.
My initial response was, "Did someone in the flight deck push the gear override and raise it?" But the mains do not appear to have started to tuck in at all. My money is on a maintenance procedure not being correctly followed.
Hope we get to hear the answer.
This is s reason we do not walk under airplanes, rare as it is. Glad I am not hearing injuries or deaths.
Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner was the firstever victim followed by BA at LHR and this LH aircraft is the third.
Leelaratne .
I didn't post earlier .
The nose gear tripped over a trip wire .
…. It definitely misbehaved Albert.
No doubt that when Walter Mitty Dunn has slept off his hangover, he will tell us all that it could never happen to Delta.
I’m afraid that this is not a good look ORD, are you sure that you are still in denial about the Airbus products?
I don't do denial about Airpus products. They suck. The only reason they exist is that the EC put up money and Douglas was bought by McDonnell.
Thanks for the grin ORD …. :-)
Allegris interior too heavy? Maybe they needed a counterweight, like the SWISS A330s.
Doink
Wow that guy on the side had he been a few feet closer would had been killed.
Lucky .
Maybe it's due to the the McDonnell Douglas quality that Boeing builds into each of its new planes.
#NeverForget
OR OR OR, you don’t actually know much about aviation, which is okay