A tower crane dropped its jib on a job site in Kensington, London, in the UK yesterday while carrying out a lift.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when an issue with a jib connection point at the far end of the jib caused it to fail. The crane is a Jaso hydraulic luffing jib model, possibly the 18 tonne J168HPA from the Falcon Cranes rental fleet. We do not know yet whether the crane was contractor or a rental company operated unit. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident.
Falcon has issued an initial statement, the full text of which is below:
“We are aware that around 10 am on Wednesday, 4th March, a luffing jib tower crane collapsed during operation in Kensington. There were no reports of any injuries. A thorough investigation has already commenced in conjunction with the manufacturer, and a full report will be issued to the industry shortly.”
UPDATE
March 15th 2026
Falcon Cranes has published a preliminary report on the incident - to view the story See: Preliminary incident report
o
FAO Andrew Brown - Director
FALCON TOWER CRANE SERVICES LTD
Shipdham Airfield Estate
Thetford
Norfolk, IP25 7SD.
Dear Mr Brown,
Thank you for your Preliminary Report into the Falcon Tower Crane Dropped Jib incident in Ladbroke Grove, London at 0953Hrs on Wednesday 4th March 2026. The content of which is noted.
As this incident above was the 9th Incident involving Falcon Tower Cranes resulting in 5 x Fatalities over the past 15yrs, it follows that someone should speak up for the dead. Therefore, please allow me the right of reply to the content of your Preliminary Report dated 13th March 2026.
On this occasion your report says….
1. The Spring-Loaded Safety Clip (Lynch Clip) turned itself thru 90 degrees.
2. This allowed the small diameter Safety Retention Pin which is inserted vertically into the Jib Pin (Connecting sections) to lift itself vertically approx 150 mm.
3. This combination of 2 x Safety devices failing you say then allowed the large diameter ‘Jib Pin to Walk Out ’ of its connection between 2 x jib sections all of which caused the Jib to collapse with potentially fatal consequences for all below.
Your report then goes on to say that this combination of events was caused by the Large Diameter Horizontal Jib Pin being Hit Vertically from below by the Hookblock. If this is the case, then clearly there is a something going wrong. Because with each incident your company then issues a Statement saying it was the fault of This, That or the Other. In the Barlby Rd dropped jib incident this report this puts the blame on the failure of 2 x safety devices, namely the Spring Loaded Safety Clip AND the Safety Retention Pin which is fitted vertically and holds the Jib Pin in position horizontally.
Therefore your Safety Training regime clearly needs attention, as 9 x incidents in 15 years is not acceptable. As such, it is my submission that your Training programme should now be amended to include all Directors, Managers and Staff based on……
4. How to Undertake Risk Assessments that are both ‘ Suitable and Suffficcient’
5. How to draft Method Statements based on ALL of the Hazards Involved.
6. How to devise a Safe System of Work which is a strategic approach based upon HSE Guidance document HSG-65 whereby if something goes wrong then no-one gets killed either On, Underneath or in proximity to your Tower Cranes.
Moreover, given that the Barlby Road Incident on 4th March 2026 was a self-evident breach of the Common Law Duty of Care to all other Workers on-site and was Crane/Lifting Incident number 1846 in my 19 years of research. All of which has Killed 997 persons worldwide since Monday 7th May 2007. It appears that if the Crane Industry carries on like this you will not get Employers Liability Insurance at any Price.
Therefore please invite me to your AGM near Fillongley to present my 19yrs of Research into Crane Safety worldwide, as my personal motivation at all times is Worker Safety, nothing else just Worker Safety.
o
FAO Andrew Brown - Director
FALCON TOWER CRANE SERVICES LTD
Shipdham Airfield Estate
Thetford
Norfolk, IP25 7SD.
Dear Mr Brown,
Thank you for your Preliminary Report into the Falcon Tower Crane Dropped Jib incident in Ladbroke Grove, London at 0953Hrs on Wednesday 4th March 2026. The content of which is noted.
As this incident above was the 9th Incident involving Falcon Tower Cranes resulting in 5 x Fatalities over the past 15yrs, it follows that someone should speak up for the dead. Therefore, please allow me the right of reply to the content of your Preliminary Report dated 13th March 2026.
On this occasion your report says….
1. The Spring-Loaded Safety Clip (Lynch Clip) turned itself thru 90 degrees.
2. This allowed the small diameter Safety Retention Pin which is inserted vertically into the Jib Pin (Connecting sections) to lift itself vertically approx 150 mm.
3. This combination of 2 x Safety devices failing you say then allowed the large diameter ‘Jib Pin to Walk Out ’ of its connection between 2 x jib sections all of which caused the Jib to collapse with potentially fatal consequences for all below.
Your report then goes on to say that this combination of events was caused by the Large Diameter Horizontal Jib Pin being Hit Vertically from below by the Hookblock. If this is the case, then clearly there is a something going wrong. Because with each incident your company then issues a Statement saying it was the fault of This, That or the Other. In the Barlby Rd dropped jib incident this report this puts the blame on the failure of 2 x safety devices, namely the Spring Loaded Safety Clip AND the Safety Retention Pin which is fitted vertically and holds the Jib Pin in position horizontally.
Therefore your Safety Training regime clearly needs attention, as 9 x incidents in 15 years is not acceptable. As such, it is my submission that your Training programme should now be amended to include all Directors, Managers and Staff based on……
4. How to Undertake Risk Assessments that are both ‘ Suitable and Suffficcient’
5. How to draft Method Statements based on ALL of the Hazards Involved.
6. How to devise a Safe System of Work which is a strategic approach based upon HSE Guidance document HSG-65 whereby if something goes wrong then no-one gets killed either On, Underneath or in proximity to your Tower Cranes.
Moreover, given that the Barlby Road Incident on 4th March 2026 was a self-evident breach of the Common Law Duty of Care to all other Workers on-site and was Crane/Lifting Incident number 1846 in my 19 years of research. All of which has Killed 997 persons worldwide since Monday 7th May 2007. It appears that if the Crane Industry carries on like this you will not get Employers Liability Insurance at any Price.
Therefore please invite me to your AGM near Fillongley to present my 19yrs of Research into Crane Safety worldwide, as my personal motivation at all times is Worker Safety, nothing else just Worker Safety.
Yours sincerely
Michael J. Ponsonby
Safety Trainer.