A TUI plane's nose landing gear collapsed while it was parked at an airport on Wednesday.

The Boeing 737-700 had just safely arrived from Malaga on a scheduled flight (TB1012) and passengers had left when the machinery gave way on January 8.

Footage shows the 16-year-old plane, registered as OO-JAR, tilting forward after its nosewheel buckled while parked at the gate.

Maintenance personnel noticed the issue and immediately alerted the fire brigade.

The airline, which operates a fleet of about 70 Boeing aircraft, is part of the TUI Airways Group and serves nearly 100 destinations worldwide. It is configured with all-economy seating and has 148 seats.

TUI Fly said it has launched an internal investigation to determine the cause of the incident and reaffirmed its 'commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards'.

The company said: 'We will carry out an in-depth analysis of the situation in consultation with the authorities, but we can already confirm that no technical problem is at the origin of this incident.'

The nosewheel is the aircraft's front wheel that supports its weight during ground operations, including take-off, landing, and taxiing. It plays a crucial role in stabilizing the plane and steering it on the ground.