Air Transport

Air India is investigating the collapse of a Boeing 777-200ER’s nose-gear at Mumbai on 16 May ahead of a planned service to the United Arab Emirates.

The aircraft had apparently been undergoing a pre-flight check while parked at the gate, prior to passenger boarding.

Television images from the scene clearly show the aircraft nose-down on stand. The jet carries the airline’s older livery, indicating that it is one of three ex-United Airlines 777-200ERs leased by the Indian flag-carrier.

Reports from India claim that the incident occurred at Mumbai’s gate 48 after the nose-gear lock had not been applied, although this has not been confirmed.

No injuries have been reported from the incident, which took place shortly before the twin-jet was due to operate flight AI717 to Dubai, but the aircraft is said to have suffered damage, the extent of which is unclear.

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news