German investigators launch probe into Boeing 787 incident in Frankfurt

BERLIN, June 5 – The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has begun an investigation into the Boeing 787 jetliner whose nose gear collapsed on Thursday at a gate at Frankfurt airport, according to a BFU spokesperson.

• An interim report is expected in about eight weeks, and the final report in about a year, said the spokesperson

• Lufthansa, which operated the aircraft, said several crew members and ground staff were lightly injured and hospitalised; two Lufthansa employees who were briefly hospitalised on Thursday were able to leave the same day

• The affected Boeing 787-9 will be repaired after the investigation, said Lufthansa

• Passengers had not yet boarded the aircraft

• The incident occurred at 12:45 p.m. (1045 GMT) on Thursday, and the jet was scheduled to depart for Los Angeles as flight LH450

• The Boeing 787-9 is a relatively new addition for the Lufthansa Group, which is planning to gradually phase out less efficient jets and simplify its fleet REUTERS