A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner belonging to Qatar Airways was badly damaged last week after one of the landing gears got stuck in a drain hole as it was pulling up to the gate at the airline’s hub in Doha.
The nine-year-old aircraft had just arrived at Doha Hamad International Airport following a routine four-and-a-half-hour flight from the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
After landing at around 6:00 am, the aircraft taxied to the gate, but just meters from its final parking spot, the right-hand main landing gear rolled over a drain hole cover, causing it to collapse.
The main landing gear dropped into the exposed drain hole, causing the right-hand engine to collide with the asphalt below as stunned ground workers looked on.
Qatar Airways has confirmed the incident, saying in a statement: “On 25th October, at Hamad International Airport, while taxiing, the right landing gear of a Qatar Airways aircraft struck an on-ground structure, causing the right engine to make contact with the ground.”
As many as 254 passengers were on the aircraft at the time of the accident, and they had to be evacuated via mobile airstairs before being transported to the terminal building by bus.
“No injuries were reported, and all passengers on board were safely disembarked and were put on a later flight,” the statement from the airline continued.
Unsurprisingly, the aircraft remains out of service, with several sources claiming that the plane has suffered “substantial” damage, which might require extensive repairs.
In May 2020, a Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner was badly damaged at Doha Hamad Airport after a violent storm with winds of 72km per hour pushed the plane from its parking position and into the side of an Airbus A350, which was parked next to it.
Both aircraft had to be taken out of service fore repairs.
