By Youssef Yahya 
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, a Boeing 737-700 operated by TUI fly Belgium experienced a nose landing gear collapse while parked at Brussels Airport. Fortunately, no passengers were onboard during the incident, which occurred at noon.
The aircraft had completed flight TB1012 from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), Spain, earlier that day. TUI fly Belgium has initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the landing gear collapse. The airline 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.”
Aircraft Details
The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 737-700, registered as OO-JAR. Manufactured approximately 16 years ago, it is powered by CFM 56-7B engines. The airplane is configured with 148 all-economy seats.
TUI Airways Group, an operator of an all-Boeing fleet, has a total of around 70 aircraft and serves nearly 100 destinations worldwide.
Similar Incidents
The TUI fly Belgium incident is not an isolated case. Similar situations involving parked or taxiing aircraft have been reported in recent years due to human errors or technical failures.
Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Incident
On October 25, 2024, a Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as A7-BCV, suffered a mishap at Hamad International Airport. During gate arrival after completing flight QR663 from Colombo to Doha, the right main landing gear became entrapped in the ramp area. This caused the right engine to contact the ground.
An airport engineer clarified that the incident resulted from a structural failure of the ramp rather than the landing gear entering a drainage system. The aircraft, powered by GEnX engines and 9.5 years old, has remained grounded since the event.
British Airways Boeing 787 Nose Gear Collapse
On June 18, 2021, a British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a nose landing gear collapse at Heathrow Airport during pre-flight maintenance for a Frankfurt cargo service. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that maintenance personnel had incorrectly positioned a critical locking pin, causing the nose gear to retract unexpectedly.
The collapse resulted in the aircraft’s forward fuselage impacting the ground, leading to extensive damage to the lower front section. Additionally, the force of the impact caused the deployment of passenger oxygen masks, dislodged overhead compartment doors, and partially detached several aircraft doors. Minor injuries were reported among the co-pilot and a cargo crew member, while post-incident safety procedures were disrupted by ground personnel.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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