A Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was severely damaged after landing at Hamad International Airport in Doha when one of its main landing gear legs struck a collapsed manhole cover.
This incident, which occurred on October 25, 2024 after a regular flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Doha, resulted in significant damage to the right main landing gear and the right engine cowling, which made contact with the ground on the tarmac. Fortunately, all passengers were uninjured and were able to leave the aircraft safely. The responsible authorities have now launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. However, the incident raises questions about the infrastructure and safety at one of the most modern airports in the world.
The incident: Unusual damage on the runway
Flight QR663 departed Colombo at 3:30 a.m. local time and arrived at Hamad International Airport at 5:23 a.m. local time after about four and a half hours of flight time. The Boeing 787-8, registration A7-BCV, a nine-year-old Dreamliner, was taxiing onto the runway after landing when the right main landing gear fell into a collapsed manhole cover. According to reports, the front two wheels of the four-section main landing gear sank almost completely, causing a significant tilt of the right side of the aircraft and causing the right engine to make contact with the ground.
Doha, Qatar – A Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8, Reg: A7-BCV, sustained significant damage when its right main landing gear fell into a drainage hole on the ramp at Hamad International Airport. The incident occurred on Friday October 25, resulting in the aircraft coming to rest on its… pic.twitter.com/6DEjsfOOv5
— SLCScanner (@SLCScanner) October 28, 2024
A Qatar Airways spokesperson said: "On October 25, the right landing gear of a Qatar Airways aircraft struck a ground structure while taxiing at Hamad International Airport, causing the right engine to contact the ground. No injuries were reported and all passengers on board were able to deplane safely and were rebooked on a later flight."
Possible damage and further tests
Following the incident, the Boeing 787 remained grounded in Doha and was out of service for a thorough technical inspection. Technicians will examine the damage in several places: in particular, the main landing gear leg, the engine cowling and fan blades, and the thrust reverser mechanism. The loads caused by the tilt to one side may have compromised the structural integrity of the affected engine. In particular, the inspection will examine the engine mounting bolts, which may have been overstressed by the engine cowling contacting the ground.
An event like this is unusual for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an airport such as Hamad International Airport, as manhole covers and runway surfaces must be designed to accommodate large and heavy commercial aircraft. The affected Dreamliner, which was delivered by Boeing to Qatar Airways in 2015 and has a capacity of 254 passengers in a two-class configuration, is temporarily out of service and will remain grounded until all inspections are completed.
Study on the infrastructure of Hamad International Airport
Doha airport authorities immediately launched an investigation to determine the cause of the manhole cover failure. One possible reason could be wear and tear caused by the high temperatures and extreme weather conditions in the Gulf region, which could have weakened the materials.
Hamad International Airport, one of the most modern airports in the world and opened in 2014, enjoys an excellent reputation for safety and efficiency and has received numerous awards for its infrastructure and service. However, this incident now raises questions about the resilience and regular maintenance of such infrastructure components, especially since runway and manhole covers at an airport of this size and importance should be regularly inspected to ensure safety.
Significance and Consequences for the Aviation Industry
Incidents of this kind are rare, but can have far-reaching consequences. Qatar Airways has invested heavily in the Boeing 787 fleet in recent years and currently operates around 30 of these aircraft, which are used on short and medium-haul routes, as well as long-haul routes. The Dreamliner series is considered to be particularly efficient and environmentally friendly and plays a central role in the Qatar Airways network.
However, such an incident could affect future aircraft and runway maintenance requirements and inspection procedures. In the future, airports may be forced to intensify their safety inspections to prevent similar incidents and adapt the infrastructure to the continuous load of air traffic.