German investigators launch probe into Boeing 787 incident in Frankfurt

BERLIN, June 5 (Reuters) - The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has begun an investigation into the Boeing 787 jetliner whose nose gear collapsed on Thursday at a gate at Frankfurt airport, according to a BFU spokesperson.

• An interim report is expected in about eight weeks, and the final report in about a year, said the spokesperson

• Lufthansa, which operated the aircraft, said several crew members and ground staff were lightly injured and hospitalised; two Lufthansa employees who were briefly hospitalised on Thursday were able to leave the same day

• The affected Boeing 787-9 will be repaired after the investigation, said Lufthansa

• Passengers had not yet boarded the aircraft

• The incident occurred at 12:45 p.m. (1045 GMT) on Thursday, and the jet was scheduled to depart for Los Angeles as flight LH450

• The Boeing 787-9 is a relatively new addition for the Lufthansa Group, which is planning to gradually phase out less efficient jets and simplify its fleet

(Reporting by Klaus Lauer, Writing by Lena Rueckerl, Editing by Miranda Murray)