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.

🇩🇪 Incendie impressionnant lors du push-back d’un Airbus A340 de Lufthansa à Francfort ce matin.

Aucun blessé, le feu s’est déclaré sur l’appareil de repoussage de l’avion.

Via @Kottem1 pic.twitter.com/OSCl7NbloH

— air plus News (@airplusnews) June 11, 2018

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.

Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 (D-AIFA) sustained unknown heat damage whilst under tow at Frankfurt Airport (EDDF) when the connected tug caught fire below it. The reason for the fire is unknown yet. pic.twitter.com/vADKnxuwdE

— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) June 11, 2018