This comes weeks after a TUI flight attendant fell from a Boeing 737 at East Midlands Airport (EMA), England.
BRUSSELS- On January 8, 2025, TUI Fly Belgium (TB)’s Boeing 737 nose landing gear fell while parked at Brussels Airport.
The incident happened on Wednesday at lunchtime. Fortunately, no people were on the airplane.
TUI Boeing 737 Gear Collapse
The event occurred unexpectedly at Brussels Airport, Belgium, following TUI Airways’ flight TB1012 from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), Spain. The airline stated that they are investigating to determine the exact reason of this incident.
The airline published a statement, which stated:
We will carry out an in-depth analysis of the situation in consultation with the authorities, but we can already confirm that no technical problem is at the origin of this incident.”
The incident involved a Boeing 737-700 with the registration number OO-JAR. Furthermore, the aircraft is around 16 years old and powered by CFM 56-7B engines.
The airplane has 148 seats in all-economy configuration.
TUI Airways Group, an all-Boeing aircraft fleet operator, offers flights to about 100 locations with a fleet of approximately 70 aircraft.
This comes weeks after a TUI flight attendant fell from a Boeing 737 at East Midlands Airport (EMA), England. The event occurred on December 16, 2024, while the crew prepared the aircraft for its voyage to Lanzarote (ACE), Spain.
The tragedy occurred when the aircraft’s moveable airstairs were removed, leaving no platform attached to the plane. Witnesses onboard stated that departure preparations were underway, with all doors initially secured.
However, a flight attendant unlocked one of the main boarding doors, mistaking the airstairs for the other ones.
The Airport Ambulance Service responded immediately, dispatching several emergency units, including an air ambulance. The injured crew member was transferred to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham for immediate treatment.
The AAIB has initiated an inquiry, and experts are interviewing crew members and evaluating safety practices.
Similar Incidents
This is not an isolated instance. Many such events occur as a result of human mistake or mechanical issues while the aircraft is being parked, towed, or taxied.
A Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was damaged when its right main landing gear became entangled at Hamad International Airport, causing the right engine to touch the ground upon gate arrival.
The incident involved aircraft A7-BCV, a 9.5-year-old Dreamliner powered by GEnX engines. On October 25, 2024, the aircraft completed flight QR663 from Colombo to Doha and has been grounded since the incident.
An airport engineer stated that the event was caused by a structural failure of the ramp area, not the landing gear entering a drain. The disintegrating surface led the main landing gear wheels to sink, resulting in engine ground contact.
Qatar Airways acknowledged the incident with Aviation A2Z via an official statement:
On 25 October, at Hamad International Airport, while taxiing, the right landing gear of a Qatar Airways aircraft struck an on-ground structure causing the right engine to make contact with the ground.”
British Airways Boeing 787 Incident
On June 18, 2021, a British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner sustained major structural damage at Heathrow Airport after its nose landing gear fell during pre-flight maintenance for a Frankfurt freight run.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) reports that maintenance technicians mistakenly positioned a critical locking pin, resulting in an unanticipated retraction of the nose landing gear. The aircraft’s forward fuselage struck the ground, causing substantial damage to the lower front area.
The incident triggered passenger oxygen masks and dislodged overhead compartment doors. The collision caused significant fuselage damage and partially dislodged some airplane doors from their hinges. During the collapse, the co-pilot and a cargo crew member were injured but not seriously.
Flight crew members described post-incident confusion, with ground staff obstructing their ability to execute required safety measures.
What happened to the TUI Boeing 737 at Brussels Airport?
A TUI Boeing 737 experienced a nose landing gear collapse at Brussels Airport while preparing for departure. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew.
Were there any injuries during the TUI Boeing 737 incident?
No, there were no reported injuries among the passengers or crew members during the incident.
What caused the nose landing gear to collapse on the TUI Boeing 737?
The exact cause of the nose landing gear collapse is still under investigation by aviation authorities and TUI’s maintenance team.
Were flights delayed at Brussels Airport due to the incident?
Yes, the incident caused temporary delays as the affected aircraft had to be removed from the runway, and airport operations were briefly disrupted.
Is this type of landing gear failure common in Boeing 737 aircraft?
Landing gear failures are rare in Boeing 737 aircraft. Such incidents are thoroughly investigated to identify any potential mechanical or maintenance issues.
What steps are being taken following the TUI Boeing 737 incident?
Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the nose landing gear collapse. TUI is also cooperating with investigators to ensure the safety of future operations.
