Breaking Crane Accident News

A luffing jib tower crane collapsed during a lifting operation in Kensington, London, after a connection point near the base of the jib reportedly failed. The crane, believed to be a Jaso J198HPA from the Falcon Cranes fleet, dropped its jib onto the job site. No injuries were reported, and Falcon Cranes has launched an investigation with the manufacturer into the tower crane incident.

A 60-year-old crane operator was seriously injured after his six-axle All Terrain crane overturned while dismantling a tower crane in Stallikon, southwest of Zurich, Switzerland. Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the rearward overturn.

Two workers were critically injured in Bangkok after the jib of a tower crane collapsed onto a construction site near Terminal 21 in the Asok district. Investigators are examining whether luffing ropes or pendant lines failed during the incident.

Two workers were killed in Trang, Thailand, after a Genie Z-80/60 boom lift fell through a collapsing concrete floor during renovation work at a municipal stadium gymnasium. Investigators are expected to examine structural loading and floor beam failure.

A 32-year-old worker was fatally injured in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when a spider lift overturned during travel while being remotely operated for sign installation preparation. The incident occurred on Jalan Perak and involved a 17-metre Zoomlion ZX27AE. Authorities have launched a full investigation into permitting, equipment ownership, and operating conditions.

A rough terrain crane overturned during setup near the Pamban Bridge in southern India while preparing to dismantle an old railway structure leading to Pamban Island. The crane, a well-used TIL model owned by rental company SRI Gemini, reportedly overturned after the ground gave way. No serious injuries were reported.

A tower crane collapsed onto a passenger vehicle in Leiria, Portugal, during Storm Kristin as extreme winds swept through central and northern parts of the country. While no injuries were reported from the crane incident, the collapse highlights the critical risks tower cranes face during severe weather events and the importance of early shutdown and storm preparation procedures.

Two fatal gantry crane collapses in Thailand occurred within 24 hours on major infrastructure projects in Nakhon Ratchasima and Samut Sakhon Province. The incidents, which killed at least 34 people, have prompted investigations into construction safety, crane operations, and oversight on high-risk transport corridors.

A tower crane collapse in Ibiza on Saturday, January 10 occurred during reported high wind conditions at a coastal construction site. While investigations are ongoing, the incident highlights how wind gusts, decision-making, and stop-work discipline play a critical role in preventing crane accidents in exposed environments

Anglo American has released full findings and an animated reconstruction of a serious Franna crane rollover at its Grosvenor Mine in Queensland in December 2024. A 40-tonne pick-and-carry crane overturned while transporting a 20-tonne crawler crane track after load swing and side loading. No injuries occurred. The company cited multiple safety protocol failures and has shared lessons learned to improve industry safety.

A United Airlines maintenance technician died after a collision between two aerial work platforms at Denver International Airport late on December 18. According to reports, one platform stopped unexpectedly and was struck by another, trapping the worker. OSHA, Denver Police, and United Airlines are investigating the incident. The fatality highlights risks associated with operating multiple aerial lifts in congested, low-light environments.

A 66-year-old man died after a mobile crane overturned at the Jamsil Bridge southern terminal interchange construction site in Seoul. The incident involved a 30–35-tonne crane, and emergency services spent more than two and a half hours extracting the victim. A stop-work order has been issued, and the Seoul Regional Employment and Labour Office has launched an investigation into the cause.

Two men died after a mobile container crane struck and overturned a 66-ft JLG telescopic boom lift at the Eifeltor railway container yard in Cologne on December 6. The workers were performing maintenance at a height of 16–17 meters when the lift was pushed over. One man died at the scene, while the second died later in hospital. Authorities have launched a joint police and safety investigation into the incident.

A four-axle all-terrain crane towing a three-axle ballast trailer rolled into a ditch in the Netherlands after the verge of a narrow rural road collapsed. The Grove crane, from the Peinemann rental fleet, had taken a wrong turn onto Bonnenweg between Hoek van Holland and Maasdijk. The operator escaped without injury but was treated for shock. A complex recovery operation using two six-axle cranes was completed later in the week.

A 34-year-old man was killed near Lithgow, NSW, after a truck-mounted lift struck a low railway bridge, causing the bridge to collapse onto the vehicle’s cab. The incident involved a Redmond Gary insulated truck mount operated by Sydney Trains. The bridge clearance was 3.8 metres. The driver survived and was hospitalised in stable condition. Authorities are investigating the cause.

A stolen Genie GS-5390 rough-terrain scissor lift was driven through the streets of Cork, Ireland, on Sunday night after being taken from St Patrick’s Quay. The machine struck bollards and travelled onto public roads before being stopped by Gardaí on South Gate Bridge. Two men were arrested for criminal damage. No injuries were reported during the 15-minute incident.

A boom lift operator has been sentenced after pleading guilty to health and safety breaches following a serious MEWP incident in Glasgow in 2022. The operator failed to provide fall protection, safety instructions, or traffic control while a colleague worked from the platform. A bus struck the boom lift, catapulting the worker from height and causing life-altering injuries. The main contractor had already been fined £215,000.

An Ainscough all-terrain crane dropped a fixed rear counterweight slab while travelling on the A249 near Maidstone, Kent. The incident involved a Liebherr LTM 1100 and resulted in no injuries or vehicle damage. Ainscough’s investigation identified a failed securing bolt as the cause and prompted an immediate inspection campaign across its fleet. The company has issued an industry alert encouraging crane owners to review counterweight fixing inspections.

Two workers were killed after a lattice crawler crane boom collapsed during demolition work at a dockside redevelopment site in Everett, Massachusetts. The incident occurred at a former Exxon oil terminal while crews were dismantling storage tanks. One man died after being taken to hospital, while the second was declared dead at the scene. Early reports suggest a possible wire rope failure, though investigations are ongoing.

A 34-year-old crane maintenance technician was seriously injured after an externally mounted tower crane hoist dropped 50–60 metres at a construction site in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The incident occurred on September 26 while the technician was carrying out inspection or repair work. The Labour Inspectorate has launched an investigation, and the site’s main contractor and crane operator, Hujmans, has confirmed full cooperation.