A Lufthansa Airbus A380 arriving from San Francisco landed too early at Munich Airport on Monday evening and struck runway threshold lights, damaging the lighting and reportedly some tyres. The aircraft, operating as flight LH459, carried 351 people, all of whom disembarked unharmed, while the jet remained on the ground for inspections and the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation opened a probe.
The incident involved a roughly 13-year-old A380 and prompted checks on both the aircraft and the runway infrastructure. Munich Airport was left dealing with another runway-related disruption after an earlier serious event at the weekend, heightening attention on local operating procedures and landing safety.
Investigators secured the flight recorders as part of the inquiry, while the precise technical cause of the early touchdown has not yet been established. Reports indicate the aircraft struck at or before the runway threshold, damaging the lights at the touchdown area and leaving the extent of any further airframe or tyre damage still under review.