SINGAPORE - A Singapore Airlines plane (SIA) was seen lying awkwardly on its front end at Changi Airport, after the aircraft's nose gear retracted on Sunday (Oct 11) morning.

According to an SIA spokesman, the Airbus A330-300, which had been undergoing a landing gear system check, was at a gate at around 8am when the incident happened.

"Maintenance work was being carried out to rectify a defect, and the gear retracted during the subsequent system check," said the spokesman. "There were no passengers or crew on board at the time. One engineer who was on the aircraft was not injured.

"Singapore Airlines will be cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigations."

The plane had been due to operate flight SQ890 - which was scheduled to depart for Hong Kong from Changi Airport's Terminal 3 - at 7.35am, following its arrival from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport after midnight on the same day.

Another aircraft was used for the flight instead.

According to records, the collapsed plane had been in service for more than six years. Its maiden flight was in May 2009.

It is understood that damages to the plane are unknown at this point. An assessment will be carried out once it has been removed from the gate.