Cargolux 747-8F undergoes inspections after gear collapse

A Cargolux Boeing 747-8F was involved in a landing gear collapse while parked at Findel Airport on 23 October.

Cargolux, the flag carrier cargo airline of Luxembourg, confirmed the incident in a social media post. The Boeing 747-8F involved in the collapse of the left-hand wing landing gear bears the registration LX-VCF.

The airline said that no crew members, employees or other individuals were injured in the incident.

The airline further added that recovery operations are underway in coordination with the relevant authorities, while an investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing.

As a precautionary measure, Cargolux has introduced additional inspections across its Boeing 747-8F fleet worldwide before the aircraft operate their next flights.

Cargolux said safety remains its highest priority and that it is working closely with all relevant stakeholders as further assessments are carried out.

The Boeing 747-8F, registered as LX-VCF and bearing manufacturer serial number (MSN) 35811, is 14.1 years old. It was delivered to Cargolux in September 2012.

The aircraft had not been grounded before the incident, according to Flightradar24 data, which shows it operated a flight from Baku to Luxembourg on 22 October, arriving at 8:45 pm.

L’essentiel reported that Luxembourg emergency services confirmed the aircraft was stationary. CGDIS fire crews were dispatched to the scene at around 11:15 am local time following the incident.

The latest incident follows a previous landing gear-related emergency involving a Cargolux Boeing 747 at Findel Airport three years ago. According to Luxembourg Times, the aircraft was arriving from Chicago when its pilots raised concerns that the landing gear had not deployed properly and declared an emergency as they approached Findel.

Cargolux currently operates 26 widebody freighters, including 12 Boeing 747-400Fs and 14 Boeing 747-8Fs. The airline is also preparing for the arrival of Boeing’s next-generation 777-8F, with a firm order for 10 aircraft and options to purchase six more.