LH A340 damaged by pushback tug fire at FRA

lh340jump · Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:40 am

tow truck fire gone really bad.... images just now

N14AZ · Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:47 am

Wow, I got a little bit scared when I read the thread title... thanks for providing the pictures.

FatCat · Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:51 am

That's one -313X "Operated by LufthansaCityLine"...
So long old friend...

N659AA · Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:53 am

Arrived from DFW on a remote spot and noticed the A340 with a ton of Fire Rescue trucks and a sea of foam underneath the aircraft. I could only see the aircraft from the rear, but the right side cockpit look pretty charred from my vantage point. It is also in the STAR ALLIANCE livery.

deltadudejg · Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:55 am

Curious what the tail number is on it

N14AZ · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:08 am

deltadudejg wrote:
Curious what the tail number is on it

Why don’t you just check the letters on the nose landing gear doors.... oh wait... :duck:

Sorry, couldn’t resist. :-)

N659AA wrote:
Arrived from DFW ...

Welcome to Germany.

juliuswong · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:14 am

Hopefully the damage isn't bad.

The Singapore Airlines B777-212ER 9V-SQK suffered same fate last year. It was written off recently after in storage for more than seven months. SQ first non-accident related write off, if I'm not mistaken.

FatCat · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:23 am

juliuswong wrote:
Hopefully the damage isn't bad.

The Singapore Airlines B777-212ER 9V-SQK suffered same fate last year. It was written off recently after in storage for more than seven months. SQ first non-accident related write off, if I'm not mistaken.

You say this excellent bird will fly again?
LHCityLine A343s are pretty old... 18 years average (source: Airfleets)
Will LHG bother repairing such plane?
I hope so... but...

ScottishDavie · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:31 am

Do we know if there were any pax on board?

teme82 · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:41 am

ScottishDavie wrote:
Do we know if there were any pax on board?

I would say no. Looks like it was on tow at the time of he incident.

juliuswong · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:49 am

FatCat wrote:
juliuswong wrote:
Hopefully the damage isn't bad.

The Singapore Airlines B777-212ER 9V-SQK suffered same fate last year. It was written off recently after in storage for more than seven months. SQ first non-accident related write off, if I'm not mistaken.

You say this excellent bird will fly again?
LHCityLine A343s are pretty old... 18 years average (source: Airfleets)
Will LHG bother repairing such plane?
I hope so... but...

We will need to leave it to insurer to evaluate if the aircraft is worth to be repaired or in parts. Fingers crossed, no metal bird deserved such ending.

FatCat · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:52 am

juliuswong wrote:
We will need to leave it to insurer to evaluate if the aircraft is worth to be repaired or in parts. Fingers crossed, no metal bird deserved such ending.

Maybe a 777 ... :stirthepot:

LTU932 · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:52 am

Regardless of our feelings, if the insurer says it's too expensive to repair, then it will be written off and scrapped. My question is, how this will impact operations for those Jump destinations, such as SJO. Does LH have any spare aircraft for Jump?

FatCat · Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:53 am

LTU932 wrote:
Regardless of our feelings, if the insurer says it's too expensive to repair, then it will be written off and scrapped. My question is, how this will impact operations for those Jump destinations, such as SJO. Does LH have any spare aircraft for Jump?

LH currently has a bunch of A346 in short term storage. Maybe they'll revive one of them. :thumbsup:

lh340jump · Mon Jun 11, 2018 9:10 am

could be D-AIFA or D-AIGV based on past / current movements

KLMatSJC · Mon Jun 11, 2018 9:11 am

I think it's D-AIGV. It looks like it was being towed over to the hangar behind the A-gates. This plane arrived at 0700 local and was scheduled to depart at 13:40--enough time to warrant a tow off. Times roughly match up as well.

It's a shame. This bird operated the inaugural SJC-FRA flight, and it holds a special place in my heart.

PanHAM · Mon Jun 11, 2018 9:20 am

According to HR1 Radio, the tractor burned and the fire obviously damaged the aircraft subsequently.

DALCE · Mon Jun 11, 2018 9:21 am

any other pics available? dropbox is blocked here in my office, so can't see a thing

placeholder · Mon Jun 11, 2018 9:29 am

Gonna be interesting to see, if it was in fact D-AIGV which was scheduled on LH482 to Tampa later on, what Bird will substitute for it.

I wouldnt hold my hopes up high to see her flying again, the Damage looks pretty substantial on the Nose section even though that Bird is fairly young with just over 18 Years.

deltadudejg · Mon Jun 11, 2018 9:41 am

FatCat wrote:
juliuswong wrote:
Hopefully the damage isn't bad.

The Singapore Airlines B777-212ER 9V-SQK suffered same fate last year. It was written off recently after in storage for more than seven months. SQ first non-accident related write off, if I'm not mistaken.

You say this excellent bird will fly again?
LHCityLine A343s are pretty old... 18 years average (source: Airfleets)
Will LHG bother repairing such plane?
I hope so... but...

If BA repaired G-VIIO after it's Vegas incident, I wouldn't put it too far past LH repairing it. The potential is there. My question along with all this is how did the avionics computers fair. They are all located below the cockpit, and subsequently above the fire.

stylo777 · Mon Jun 11, 2018 9:51 am

Pretty sad...
he are some more pictures available: http://www.aero.de/news-29355/Airbus-A3 ... edigt.html

juliuswong · Mon Jun 11, 2018 9:59 am

DALCE wrote:
any other pics available? dropbox is blocked here in my office, so can't see a thing

There you go mate:
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world- ... ruck-blaze
https://www.aerotelegraph.com/airbus-a3 ... eingerusst
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6498786/f ... t-updated/
http://www.kokpit.aero/frankfurt-a340-burnu-yandi

axiom · Mon Jun 11, 2018 10:03 am

D-AIFA had just arrived from ATL. A shame to see her looking like this...

Bricktop · Mon Jun 11, 2018 10:05 am

What a freakish and sad way to go.

juliuswong · Mon Jun 11, 2018 10:06 am

deltadudejg wrote:
FatCat wrote:
juliuswong wrote:
Hopefully the damage isn't bad.

The Singapore Airlines B777-212ER 9V-SQK suffered same fate last year. It was written off recently after in storage for more than seven months. SQ first non-accident related write off, if I'm not mistaken.

You say this excellent bird will fly again?
LHCityLine A343s are pretty old... 18 years average (source: Airfleets)
Will LHG bother repairing such plane?
I hope so... but...

If BA repaired G-VIIO after it's Vegas incident, I wouldn't put it too far past LH repairing it. The potential is there. My question along with all this is how did the avionics computers fair. They are all located below the cockpit, and subsequently above the fire.

The upclose photos are now online. She took pretty bad beating. Looks like she is a toast, tbh. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6498786/f ... t-updated/

However, JADEC tweeted that only minor damage. Assessment underway. https://twitter.com/JacdecNew/status/10 ... 1610240000

Btw, registration is D-AIFA

FatCat · Mon Jun 11, 2018 10:08 am

First flight 26/06/2000... I don't think she will ever fly again.
...but where will she be scrapped? Does FRA have such a capability?

DALCE · Mon Jun 11, 2018 10:09 am

Thanks for the links and pics Stylo777 & juliuswong

N14AZ · Mon Jun 11, 2018 10:25 am

Reminds me a little bit of this jet...

BartSimpson · Mon Jun 11, 2018 10:27 am

Location of the incident seems to be between Hangar 6 and Terminal Z:

https://www.google.de/maps/@50.0460953,8.5575906,17.13z

Bjm0517 · Mon Jun 11, 2018 11:19 am

I hope Lufthansa will repair this bird, the A340 is such an amazing aircraft and I would hope to see this one go in such a negative way. :ashamed:

But if it does get scrapped, can that even happen at FRA? I mean they can store it but if they scrap it will it have to be repaired enough to fly to a scrapping-Capable airport? I hope it will not come to that.

seahawk · Mon Jun 11, 2018 11:24 am

Looks to be mostly soot.

N14AZ · Mon Jun 11, 2018 11:54 am

Bjm0517 wrote:
I hope Lufthansa will repair this bird, the A340 is such an amazing aircraft and I would hope to see this one go in such a negative way.

But if it does get scrapped, can that even happen at FRA? I mean they can store it but if they scrap it will it have to be repaired enough to fly to a scrapping-Capable airport? I hope it will not come to that.

I follow the "movements" in FRA since the beginning of the 1980ies but I cannot remember of a single jet that was scrapped in FRA.

I remember a LH-B742 that was transferred to HHN (less than 100km, give or take) just to be scrapped there: http://www.aviationpics.de/scrap/abyq/page_01.htm

Talking about....

juliuswong wrote:
The Singapore Airlines B777-212ER 9V-SQK suffered same fate last year. It was written off recently after in storage for more than seven months.

Has it been scrapped in Singapore?

Francoflier · Mon Jun 11, 2018 12:04 pm

The problem is that the fire was burning right underneath the electronics compartment.

Even if there weren't serious structural repairs required, it is likely that the extensive electronic systems and wiring damage would make the repair quite expensive.

It all depends on how long the fire burned before it was put out and how hot it got in there...

And given the batteries are in there too, it's a good thing they aren't Lithium. :duck:

columba · Mon Jun 11, 2018 12:11 pm

Francoflier wrote:
The problem is that the fire was burning right underneath the electronics compartment.

Even if there weren't serious structural repairs required, it is likely that the extensive electronic systems and wiring damage would make the repair quite expensive.

It all depends on how long the fire burned before it was put out and how hot it got in there...

And given the batteries are in there too, it's a good thing they aren't Lithium.

Also add the Water/foam damage as well

BobMUC · Mon Jun 11, 2018 12:42 pm

Short video of the fire:
https://www.bild.de/video/clip/flughafe ... .bild.html

Revelation · Mon Jun 11, 2018 12:50 pm

juliuswong wrote:
However, JADEC tweeted that only minor damage. Assessment underway. https://twitter.com/JacdecNew/status/10 ... 1610240000

Tweet sez:

There are reports the A340 was only sooted + the amount of aircraft damage was considered minor, if any.

So, finally, we get an aircraft incident where the damage really might just be buffed out! :biggrin:

juliuswong · Mon Jun 11, 2018 12:54 pm

Revelation wrote:
juliuswong wrote:
However, JADEC tweeted that only minor damage. Assessment underway. https://twitter.com/JacdecNew/status/10 ... 1610240000

Tweet sez:

There are reports the A340 was only sooted + the amount of aircraft damage was considered minor, if any.

So, finally, we get an aircraft incident where the damage really might just be buffed out!

Duct tape and some paint, that would suffice. :duck:

juliuswong · Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:07 pm

N14AZ wrote:
Bjm0517 wrote:
I hope Lufthansa will repair this bird, the A340 is such an amazing aircraft and I would hope to see this one go in such a negative way.

But if it does get scrapped, can that even happen at FRA? I mean they can store it but if they scrap it will it have to be repaired enough to fly to a scrapping-Capable airport? I hope it will not come to that.

I follow the "movements" in FRA since the beginning of the 1980ies but I cannot remember of a single jet that was scrapped in FRA.

I remember a LH-B742 that was transferred to HHN (less than 100km, give or take) just to be scrapped there: http://www.aviationpics.de/scrap/abyq/page_01.htm

Talking about....
juliuswong wrote:
The Singapore Airlines B777-212ER 9V-SQK suffered same fate last year. It was written off recently after in storage for more than seven months.

Has it been scrapped in Singapore?

Flew into SIN recently, she was stripped all title and logo, parked in front of SIAEC. Guess she is not going anywhere soon.

Such a sad ending to a mighty bird. 15 years old, and just got cabin refit last year before her fiery ending in Nov 2017.

AIRT0M · Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:08 pm

placeholder wrote:
Gonna be interesting to see, if it was in fact D-AIGV which was scheduled on LH482 to Tampa later on, what Bird will substitute for it.

I wouldnt hold my hopes up high to see her flying again, the Damage looks pretty substantial on the Nose section even though that Bird is fairly young with just over 18 Years.

According to LH the damaged plane was the D-AIFA and it was supposed to fly to PHL today. They plan to put it back in service 'within days'.

FatCat · Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:10 pm

Good news. So not much than a sun burn apparently...
Wonder if she will be repainted in "Star Alliance" livery or with the new "Boring Blue" livery

Carlos01 · Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:11 pm

BobMUC wrote:
Short video of the fire:
https://www.bild.de/video/clip/flughafe ... .bild.html

Seriously, anyone saying "only minor damage" after seeing that video should probably also go through an "assessment" like the plane.

Of course, majority of the plane was unharmed though. Like the wings, engines and stuff. Some smoke-aroma perhaps in the cabin. So comparing e.g. with the SR111 - I guess damage is minor.

I wonder how long it took for the airport firecrews to get there? It seems like the fire went on for several minutes.

FatCat · Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:23 pm

Carlos01 wrote:
BobMUC wrote:
Short video of the fire:
https://www.bild.de/video/clip/flughafe ... .bild.html

Seriously, anyone saying "only minor damage" after seeing that video should probably also go through an "assessment" like the plane.

Of course, majority of the plane was unharmed though. Like the wings, engines and stuff. Some smoke-aroma perhaps in the cabin. So comparing e.g. with the SR111 - I guess damage is minor.

I wonder how long it took for the airport firecrews to get there? It seems like the fire went on for several minutes.

If the fire was caused by tug's engine oil spill, it will take no time to make flames that high.
You can find tons of videos about turbine failures on car on youtube...

glideslope · Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:35 pm

FatCat wrote:
That's one -313X "Operated by LufthansaCityLine"...
So long old friend...

Indeed. Was thinking the exact same thing.

columba · Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:40 pm

AIRT0M wrote:
placeholder wrote:
. They plan to put it back in service 'within days'.

To quote a former German Foreign Minister: "I am not convinced".

The reason why:

https://twitter.com/JacdecNew/status/10 ... 68/photo/1

See the hole in the third picture

stylo777 · Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:43 pm

Is there a technician inside the cockpit during those ground positionings, e.g. for atc communication or application of breaks, etc.??

N14AZ · Mon Jun 11, 2018 2:29 pm

Carlos01 wrote:
I wonder how long it took for the airport firecrews to get there? It seems like the fire went on for several minutes.

How do you know? I guess you are referring to this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tKk4ayJ7Zg but it doesn't show the arrival of the fire engines...

N14AZ · Mon Jun 11, 2018 2:33 pm

Aviation Herald now has a section for this accident: https://avherald.com/h?article=4b9bfba4&opt=0

A replacement A340-300 registration D-AIGP departed with a delay of two hours.

Wow, not bad.

smokeybandit · Mon Jun 11, 2018 2:48 pm

Well if you're going to have an incident like that, no better place to have it than your main hub

DABYT · Mon Jun 11, 2018 2:50 pm

Video from another angle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wId8RSu3Ofw

N14AZ · Mon Jun 11, 2018 3:05 pm

DABYT wrote:
Video from another angle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wId8RSu3Ofw

Wow, I never saw passengers or a group of visitors walking on the apron in that area of the airport (see at about 0:25). Not the best Timing, I guess..

smokeybandit wrote:
Well if you're going to have an incident like that, no better place to have it than your main hub

True.

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