FINDEL, LUXEMBOURG — A Cargolux Boeing 747-400 freighter gained attention on social media after a failed landing attempt led to damage to the aircraft. On April 15, the plane took off from Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport, heading to Luxembourg Findel Airport. 


The video capturing the incident showed the aircraft making a hard landing on Findel Airport's Runway 06, bouncing off the runway, and scraping one of its left engines before taking off again. The crew decided to abort the landing and try again, successfully landing at 6:45 p.m. local time.

Cargolux Airlines confirmed that the aircraft sustained damage and will remain grounded for inspections, repairs, and internal investigations. No injuries were reported. Photos showing the damage to the aircraft's left-wing engine nacelles have surfaced online.



The 14-year-old Boeing 747 cargo plane is part of Cargolux's fleet of 30 aircraft. Flightradar24 data revealed that the plane was returning to Luxembourg from Taipei, diverted to Dubai, and then continued to Europe. The specific cargo on the flight remains undisclosed.

The cause of the incident is still uncertain, but data from FlightAware tracking site suggests the plane attempted to land with a 15-knot crosswind and a high ground speed of 175 knots. The mishap could have been caused by an overcorrection. Cargolux's ongoing investigation will provide further information on the cause of the turbulent landing.