Star Alliance A340 Blackened by Flames at Frankfurt Airport

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A Star Alliance plane was engulfed by flames at Frankfurt Airport when the truck towing the aircraft caught fire during a push-back. Six people have been treated with various injuries – according to a Frankfurt Airport spokesman.

The incident reportedly occurred during a ‘pushback’ where an aircraft is pushed backwards away from the airport gate by a towing vehicle to avoid the aeroplane having to use its engine jets close to the terminal.


The blaze surrounded the Lufthansa Airbus A340’s cockpit while it was being moved near an airport terminal. Fire crews raced to douse the inferno – which left the plane’s exterior completely blackened.

Thick black smoke could be seen emerging from the aircraft as it remained stationary near the terminal. It is unclear whether any passengers or staff were aboard the aircraft when the blaze broke out.

Aviation news site JACDEC claimed the plane suffered heat damage – but was only blackened during the fire.