A Boeing 747 freighter operated by Cargolux experienced a landing gear problem upon its return to Luxembourg Airport yesterday afternoon, resulting in the loss of an entire set of four wheels during touchdown. The incident, captured on video, showcased the unusual occurrence that left the aircraft grounded and the airport temporarily closed.
The Cargolux flight, registered as LX-OCV, had departed Luxembourg at 4:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, en route to Chicago, United States, with flight number CV-6857. However, shortly after takeoff, the cockpit crew encountered difficulties retracting the landing gear. As a result, the jumbo jet circled over Luxembourg and conducted fuel dumping maneuvers to reduce its weight before attempting to return to the airport.
At approximately 6:50 p.m., the Boeing 747 made its landing on runway 06 at Luxembourg Airport. However, during touchdown, one of the central sets of wheels exhibited an anomalous behavior, ultimately leading to the detachment of the entire set at a significant altitude above the runway. Emergency response teams, prepared in anticipation of the landing gear problem, captured the event on video as they raced to the scene.
The incident caused the closure of Luxembourg Airport, as the Boeing 747 F obstructed the runway. The aircraft came to a controlled stop, and no injuries were reported among the crew or emergency personnel. However, the loss of the landing gear necessitated an extensive assessment and cleanup process before normal operations could resume.
Cargolux described the incident as a “serious incident on landing,” emphasizing the need for thorough examination of the aircraft. Following the retrieval of the disabled Boeing 747, experts inspected it for any damage or debris. The runway closure persisted for several hours, and the airport issued updates advising passengers to check with their respective airlines for flight status and alternative travel arrangements.
Cargolux 747-400 flight #CV6857 LUX-ORD lost part of landing gear during emergency landing at Luxembourg airport pic.twitter.com/cI7ouy0IbX
— c-wizz (@chrivoge) May 14, 2023
Preliminary information suggests that the aircraft may have landed with a weight exceeding the maximum limit for a Boeing 747-400F. While this could indicate a significant problem that prompted the pilots to opt for an immediate landing, further investigation is required to ascertain the precise cause of the incident.
Luxembourg Airport reopened its runway at 12:53 a.m. on Monday, resuming normal operations once the necessary inspections and clean-up procedures were completed.
