(Updated version)

FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - A major scare at Frankfurt Airport: several Lufthansa employees and partner company staff were injured when the nose landing gear of a Dreamliner suddenly collapsed. Fortunately, no passengers were on board at the time.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon around 12:45 PM at boarding gate A15 in front of Terminal 1. The aircraft, flight number LH450, was scheduled to depart for Los Angeles. The plane is a Boeing 787-9, known as the Dreamliner - a twin-engine long-haul aircraft capable of carrying 200 to 440 passengers.

According to dpa information, the flight was scheduled to take off at 1:50 PM. Boarding for long-haul flights typically takes around 30 minutes, meaning the first passengers would have been on board by approximately 1:15 PM.

13 crew members and partner staff on board

What happened? 'While at a parking position, the aircraft's nose landing gear unexpectedly collapsed,' a company spokesperson explained when asked about the sequence of events. The cause of the failure remains to be determined.

According to the spokesperson, 13 Lufthansa crew members were on board at the time of the incident, along with an unknown number of other employees. The teams were in the process of preparing the aircraft before passenger boarding.

Two Lufthansa employees hospitalized

'Two Lufthansa cabin crew members and additional employees from service providers were taken to a hospital for medical treatment,' it was stated on Thursday evening. No details were provided regarding the severity of the injuries or the total number of other injured persons.

Photographs show the jet bridge already attached to the aircraft. Emergency vehicles are positioned next to the damaged plane. The images also reveal significant damage to the aircraft: the nose has tilted forward while the tail section protrudes upward.

A video on X, which Lufthansa considers authentic, shows the aircraft from the front as the nose sags forward. Debris can be seen breaking off and flying to the side. A ground worker is seen standing directly next to the plane.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation. A crisis management team has been established, and technicians and experts are on-site. Following clearance from the authorities, the Dreamliner is expected to be moved to a maintenance hangar during the evening. Further inspections will take place there before repairs are initiated.

Dreamliner: a recent addition to the fleet

Lufthansa received its first Boeing 787-9 in 2022. According to the company, it currently operates 17 Dreamliners in its fleet, with the number expected to reach 29 by the end of 2027. In its marketing, Lufthansa has promised 'a unique travel experience' with the aircraft.

According to airport operator Fraport, the incident has had no major impact on overall flight operations./sat/DP/he