An airplane’s landing gear completely detached during an emergency landing.
The landing gear failed to retract shortly after takeoff, forcing the captain of a Boeing 747 bound for Chicago O’Hare Airport in the USA to abort the flight.
The airline, Cargolux, acknowledged that last evening there was a “significant landing incident” involving one of their aircraft.
Terrifying footage filmed by onlookers shows the aircraft coming in to land at Luxembourg Airport after it safely dumped fuel and turned back.
As the plane touches down with its rear wheels, it starts to disappear out of the shot momentarily.
But then a shocked woman behind the camera can be heard saying: ‘Woah, woah, woah, s***!’
Just out of shot, the right-hand landing gear had completely snapped off from the underside of the aircraft.
When the camera pans further left, the entire landing gear can be seen dramatically flying through the air and bouncing along the runway.
Huge puffs of dust and smoke kick up from the tarmac before the landing gear comes to a standstill on the ground.
A fire service truck immediately rushes towards the damaged plane to help.
Pictures taken afterwards show significant damage to the fuselage with crumpled bodywork and a gaping hole in the plane.
The wheels of the landing gear were torn off and entirely separated from the plane.
A Cargolux spokesman said: ‘Cargolux would like to confirm that one of its aircraft, B747-400F bearing registration mark LX-OCV, suffered a significant landing incident at Luxembourg airport on Sunday evening at 18:52.
‘The aircraft was unable to retract its landing gear on take-off from Luxembourg.
‘As a result, it was forced to safely dump fuel in order to return to land at the airport.
‘On its landing roll its right body landing gear detached from the aircraft.’
Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident and Cargolux say the plane managed to come to a ‘controlled stop’ before emergency services attended the scene.
The spokesman added: ‘No persons on board nor on the ground suffered any injuries.
‘The relevant authorities have been informed of the incident.
‘The aircraft remains on the runway and recovery efforts are underway.’
Last month, a plane carrying the Arsenal women’s football team burst into flames on the runway as it was taking off.