The preliminary investigation report into the collapse of a Lufthansa aircraft during maintenance revealed that the incident likely resulted from non-compliance with approved maintenance procedures, not from a technical fault in the nose landing gear system as initially believed.

The report explained that the inspection process focused on the control system of the main landing gear (MLG) doors, while maintenance teams were diagnosing and isolating the fault, with no defect in the nose gear.

The investigation indicated that the safety pin for the nose gear was located inside the aircraft, specifically in the electronics bay below the cockpit, while maintenance instructions explicitly required securing the gear before commencing inspection work, which supported the hypothesis of a clear violation of technical procedures.

Following the accident, emergency teams drained approximately 60 tons of fuel from the aircraft before lifting its nose using an airbag. Inspections showed that the nose landing gear (NLG) system was functioning normally, with no signs of breakage or mechanical failure.

The accident resulted in two serious injuries and 21 minor injuries among workers, while the aircraft with registration code D-ABPQ sustained severe damage to several parts of its structure. Its electrical system also failed after hitting the ground, though the report did not determine the direct cause of this failure.

The damaged aircraft is one of the latest additions to the Lufthansa fleet, having entered commercial service in the first quarter of 2026 after a delivery delay due to regulatory reasons. It had completed 147 landings and logged 1,093 flight hours since its first test flight in April 2025.

Investigators continue technical probes to determine final responsibilities, while the preliminary report stresses that strict adherence to safety and maintenance procedures remains the most important factor in preventing the recurrence of such incidents.