The Defense press service released a brief statement stating that an A400M landing gear fairing was snagged by a powered lifting platform. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the incident, including the possibility of handling error or defective equipment. Damage assessment and repair methods are being worked on with industry collaboration. However, no further details were provided regarding the repair timeframe or the device’s nationality and when the incident occurred. Melsbroek airport currently houses seven A400Ms, six of which belong to the 20th squadron, also known as the “Belgium-Luxembourg Binational Air Transport Unit A400M.” According to unconfirmed information, the damaged device will be sent back to the manufacturer, Airbus, and may not be available until July or August.
“A powered lifting platform snagged an A400M landing gear fairing,” the Defense press service said in a brief statement.
“The investigation is underway to determine the causes of the incident. Several leads are possible: handling error, defective equipment, etc. Damage assessment and repair methods are also underway in collaboration with the industry. “, added the Defense.
“At this stage, we are unable to provide further details on the repair timeframe,” the ministry concluded, without specifying when the incident occurred or the nationality of the device.
Melsbroek airport currently hosts seven A400Ms – six Belgians and the only Luxembourg aircraft – belonging to the 20th squadron, also called “‘Belgium-Luxembourg Binational Air Transport Unit A400M’ (BNU A400M). An eighth and final aircraft is expected by the end of the year.
According to information not confirmed by the Defense, the damaged device should return for repair to the manufacturer, Airbus, and would be unavailable until July or August.
Overall, the incident involving the A400M landing gear fairing at Melsbroek airport is still under investigation by the Defense. While a cause has not yet been determined, several possibilities are being considered, and assessments and repairs are currently underway alongside industry collaboration. The specific details of when the incident occurred and the nationality of the device have also not been disclosed. However, it is known that Melsbroek airport currently hosts seven A400Ms and an eighth is expected by year-end. The damaged device may need to be sent back to the manufacturer, Airbus, for repairs and might be unavailable until July or August. As the investigation continues, updates will likely be provided in the future.
