Lufthansa flies damaged empty A340 at low altitude across the Atlantic

On July 8, 2025, a Lufthansa Airbus A340-600 aircraft completed a Transatlantic flight between Boston-Logan (BOS) and Frankfurt (FRA) at only 10,000 feet, just one third of the usual 30,000. The low altitude was due to the lack of pressurization in the cabin. 

The aircraft in question, registered D-AIHZ, was damaged by a high loader, a type of ground support equipment that is used to haul cargo onto the aircraft, while on the ground at Boston-Logan on July 5, 2025. The incident resulted in the airframe being punctured, which affected the ability to pressurize the cabin. 

Although it was patched up to fly, the German airline decided to return the aircraft back to Frankfurt for more permanent repairs.  

However, the ferry flight had to be carried out almost completely empty, with only the crew onboard. It also took four hours longer than normal, with the flight lasting 10 hours and 30 minutes rather than the usual six and a half hours. 

Due to the unusual circumstances, the flight was also widely followed on Flightradar24 as it was making its way back to Europe across the Atlantic. 

After suffering a puncture from a high loader in Boston, Lufthansa A340-600 D-AIHZ was patched enough to make it home for permanent repairs as an unpressurized ferry flight. The flight, which will take 10h30m at just 10,000 feet, normally lasts 6h30m. https://t.co/mOv9hl3Aee pic.twitter.com/t2qkLGHOTK— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) July 8, 2025This is not the first instance of a European airline ferrying home a damaged aircraft from Boston. In April 2025, a British Airways Boeing 777-300ER was flown empty to London-Heathrow (LHR). On that occasion, the aircraft (registration G-STBD) had previously diverted to Boston after experiencing technical issues while operating a flight between Washington-Dulles (IAD) and London-Heathrow. 

AeroTime has contacted Lufthansa for further comment. The post Lufthansa flies damaged empty A340 at low altitude across the Atlantic appeared first on AeroTime.

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