Freighter LX-VCF suffered a left-wing landing gear failure while parked at Luxembourg Airport. No injuries were reported, as the airline initiated precautionary inspections across its global 747-8F fleet.
Cargolux has introduced additional safety inspections across its Boeing 747-8F fleet following the collapse of the left-wing landing gear on one of its freighters at Luxembourg Airport on 23 October.
The aircraft, registered as LX-VCF, was stationary on its designated parking stand when the incident occurred. The Luxembourg-based cargo airline confirmed that the landing gear failure resulted in the aircraft’s left side settling, prompting recovery operations and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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No injuries were reported among crew members, airport personnel or other individuals involved.
Cargolux is working with the relevant authorities to establish what happened, while recovery operations are being conducted to assess and manage the affected aircraft.
The incident has prompted precautionary action beyond the aircraft involved, with the airline requiring additional inspections of its Boeing 747-8F fleet worldwide before individual aircraft undertake their next flights.
Precautionary inspections across global 747-8F operations
In its statement, Cargolux confirmed that the additional inspections would apply to its Boeing 747-8F fleet worldwide and would be carried out before the aircraft’s next flights.
The measure is intended to provide additional assurance regarding the condition and operational safety of the aircraft while the circumstances of the Luxembourg incident are being investigated.
The airline has not disclosed the precise inspection procedures, how long the checks are expected to take or whether they will affect its flight schedules.
Importantly, the precautionary inspections apply specifically to the 747-8F fleet and should not be interpreted as an inspection order covering every Boeing aircraft operated by the company.
Cargolux emphasised that safety remains its highest priority and that it is working closely with the relevant authorities and other stakeholders during the investigation.
Investigation underway to establish cause
The collapse occurred while LX-VCF was parked at Luxembourg Airport, rather than during landing, take-off or taxiing.
The precise cause has not been established, and Cargolux has not attributed the failure to a particular technical or operational factor.
The investigation will need to establish the circumstances surrounding the landing gear failure before any conclusions can be drawn. The aircraft’s recovery and subsequent technical assessment are important steps in determining the extent of the damage and the actions required before any potential return to service.
Local Luxembourg media, including Le Quotidien and RTL Today, independently reported the incident and confirmed that the aircraft was stationary when the landing gear collapsed and that nobody was injured.
Boeing 747-8F remains central to Cargolux operations
The incident involves one of the aircraft types central to Cargolux’s international cargo operations.
The Boeing 747-8F provides substantial payload capacity, long-range performance and a distinctive nose-loading capability, making it particularly suitable for oversized freight, industrial equipment and specialised cargo shipments.
Cargolux operates a dedicated fleet of Boeing 747-400 and 747-8 freighters, with the aircraft supporting its international network through its Luxembourg hub.
The company has also been preparing for the next generation of large freighter aircraft through its order for Boeing 777-8 Freighters, intended to support its longer-term fleet development.
The additional inspections following the LX-VCF incident underline the importance of maintaining fleet airworthiness and operational reliability, particularly for airlines whose international networks depend heavily on large-capacity freighters.
For the time being, the focus remains on completing the recovery operation, establishing the cause of the landing gear collapse and ensuring that the remaining 747-8F fleet meets the required safety standards before returning to service.
