FRANKFURT- Lufthansa (LH) confirmed that one of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners suffered a nose landing gear collapse while parked at a gate at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
The almost factory-fresh widebody tipped forward onto its nose, injuring several staff members and triggering a large emergency response at Germany’s busiest hub.
The aircraft, registered D-ABPQ and named “Herne,” was preparing to operate flight LH450 to Los Angeles (LAX) when the gear gave way at around 12:45 p.m. local time.
No passengers were on board, and Lufthansa cancelled the long-haul service while it began investigating the exact circumstances with the relevant authorities.
Lufthansa 787 Suffers Nose Gear Collapse
The Dreamliner was stationary at its departure gate during pushback preparations when its nose landing gear unexpectedly collapsed. Photographs and an airport CCTV clip circulating online show the front of the aircraft resting on the ground, with the rear fuselage tilted upward.
Reuters reported that a photographer at the scene saw multiple emergency vehicles surrounding the twin-engine widebody, which partly lay on its belly.
Airport operator Fraport confirmed the incident occurred on the apron shortly after midday. According to Bloomberg, which first reported the event, no passengers were aboard the aircraft at the time. Lufthansa stated that crew members and ground staff were on board when the gear failed.
Injuries and Emergency Response
Lufthansa said several staff members were injured and were receiving medical treatment. The airline did not confirm the exact number of people hurt or the severity of their injuries.
Early reports had suggested no injuries, but the carrier later updated its statement to confirm that personnel had been affected.
Emergency teams responded quickly to secure the aircraft and the surrounding apron area. The incident did not cause wider disruption to airport operations, as the jet was stationary on a stand rather than on an active taxiway or runway.
A Brand-New Allegris Dreamliner
D-ABPQ ranks among the newest aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet. The carrier took delivery of the jet in January 2026, and it entered long-haul service on February 13, 2026, meaning it had been flying for under four months at the time of the incident.
The aircraft is fitted with Lufthansa’s latest Allegris cabin product and is based in Frankfurt. Unlike some long-haul aircraft operating from other Lufthansa hubs, this Dreamliner does not feature a First Class cabin.
The fact that the incident involved a recently delivered aircraft rather than an older jet nearing retirement has drawn added attention within the aviation industry. Modern widebodies are designed with multiple safety redundancies, which makes a nose gear collapse at a gate an extremely rare event.
Cancelled Los Angeles Flight LH450
The collapse forced Lufthansa to cancel flight LH450, the scheduled Frankfurt to Los Angeles service for the day.
Passengers booked on the route faced rebooking onto alternative flights. As reported by One Mile at a Time, travelers affected by the cancellation may be eligible to claim compensation under EU Regulation EC261, depending on their circumstances.
Damage and Grounding Outlook
Images from the scene point to significant damage around the forward fuselage and nose gear bay, with the landing gear doors appearing to have been forced outward.
Some photographs also suggest that parts of the engine nacelles may have contacted the ground. Damage of this nature typically requires extensive inspection and repair, so the aircraft is expected to remain out of service for an extended period.
Investigation Underway
Lufthansa stated that it is working with the relevant authorities to determine what caused the failure. Investigators will likely review maintenance records, hydraulic systems, structural components, and manufacturing data to establish whether a technical defect contributed to the collapse. Because the jet is so new, any findings could carry weight across the wider Boeing 787 operator community.
Similar Incident
Gate-side nose gear collapses on the 787 are uncommon but not unprecedented. In June 2021, a British Airways Boeing 787-8 (registration G-ZBJB) suffered a nose gear collapse while parked on a stand at London Heathrow (LHR) as it prepared for a cargo flight, causing similar forward-fuselage damage with no one injured on board.
Lufthansa’s own 787-9 fleet has also drawn safety attention following separate landing-gear-related events on the type. These cases give investigators reference points as they work to identify the root cause in Frankfurt.
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