Lufthansa A380 Damages Approach Lights at Munich After Landing Early
A Lufthansa Airbus A380 suffered damage to runway approach lighting at Munich Airport after landing early on Monday evening, August 17, 2026. The incident occurred when Flight LH459 from San Francisco, carrying 351 passengers, touched down before the marked threshold of Runway 26L and struck several approach lights ahead of that point. Despite the hard contact, the aircraft continued its rollout and taxied normally to the gate without reported injuries among passengers or crew.
The A380, registered D-AIML and about 13 years old, was taken out of service pending a detailed inspection to assess any structural impact on the landing gear, tires, and related systems. Lufthansa confirmed that all 351 passengers disembarked normally at the terminal, and the airline is fully supporting an investigation opened by Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU). The BFU will review flight data and cockpit voice recordings to determine why the A380 touched down early.
The incident marks the second serious runway incident involving a widebody aircraft at Munich Airport within days. On August 15, 2026, a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 struggled to gain speed during takeoff from Runway 26L and overran the far end of the runway, damaging airfield lighting.