Passengers on a New Year’s Eve flight to Dubai had their plans disrupted after Emirates flight EK002 was forced to return to London Heathrow Airport shortly after takeoff due to a technical fault. The Airbus A380 departed Heathrow just after 2:30pm GMT but only travelled as far as Kent before turning back.
The aircraft circled south-east London at an altitude of 10,000 feet for approximately 90 minutes before landing safely. Circling in a holding pattern is standard procedure to burn off fuel and reduce weight for a safer landing.
An Emirates spokesperson confirmed the flight returned due to a technical fault, and all passengers and crew disembarked safely. Passengers will be rebooked on future Emirates flights from Heathrow. The airline apologised for the inconvenience, emphasising that safety is of utmost importance.
Reports indicate the crew identified an issue with the landing gear system. The incident follows a Ryanair flight to Tenerife that was diverted back to Birmingham after severe turbulence injured several passengers.
