The nose landing gear of a TUI Airlines Boeing 737 collapsed abruptly while parked in Brussels after a flight from Spain in an unusual incident. The incident was captured on video and spread quickly across social media, raising eyebrows and concerns. Thankfully, there were no passengers on board and TUI confirmed no one was injured in this bizarre incident.
Luk de Wilde, an aviation journalist, described the collapse as ‘exceptional’, adding that it probably doesn’t look as bad a safety issue as it first seems. The collapse was attributed to possible human error in maintenance or operations, he said, adding that when an aircraft lands, the landing gear retracts. But TUI has refused to confirm such speculation, saying that their initial investigation indicates no technical fault was to blame for the incident.
It is a difficult time for TUI Airlines. The airline has been under scrutiny in recent months over a series of safety-related mishaps. A flight attendant was injured when she fell from a cabin door with retracted stairs, and in August, passengers had to evacuate a 737 after a cargo hold fire. The incidents heightened public concerns about the airline’s safety protocols.
The nose collapse is another troubling story for Boeing 737 jets. Boeing has had its share of controversy, from the widely publicized 737 MAX crashes to internal safety crises. Maintaining public trust is becoming a growing challenge for TUI Airlines, which mainly serves vacationers from Belgium and the UK.
The incident is a reminder of the complexities in modern aviation safety, and as TUI and aviation authorities continue their investigation. Accidents like these are rare, but their visibility highlights the need for rigorous maintenance and transparency in accountability for airlines and manufacturers.
