ZURICH — A Singapore Airlines flight bound for Singapore was forced to make an emergency return to Zurich Airport on Saturday morning following a technical issue shortly after takeoff.
Singapore Airlines flight SQ345, operated by a 13-year-old Boeing 777-300ER (registration 9V-SWU), departed Zurich’s runway 16 for what was scheduled to be a 12-hour journey to Singapore Changi Airport. However, the climb was abruptly halted.
According to reports from The Aviation Herald, the flight crew stopped their ascent at 15,000 feet after encountering an issue with the aircraft’s flaps.
Extended Hold to Dump Fuel
Recognizing the mechanical malfunction, the pilots contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) to declare the issue and request a return to Zurich.
Because long-haul aircraft like the Boeing 777-300ER depart with heavy fuel loads for transcontinental flights, the plane exceeded its maximum structural landing weight. To ensure a safe landing and prevent undue stress on the aircraft’s landing gear, the crew spent time dumping and burning off excess fuel over designated areas.
The aircraft landed safely back at Zurich Airport approximately 90 minutes after its initial departure.
Flight Cancelled
Emergency services met the aircraft upon arrival as a standard precautionary measure. Passengers were taxied back to the terminal, and Singapore Airlines subsequently cancelled the flight to allow engineers to inspect and repair the flap mechanism.
Flight Details:
- Flight Number: SQ345
- Route: Zurich (ZRH) to Singapore (SIN)
- Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-300ER
- Registration: 9V-SWU
- Incident Cause: Flap issue during climb
Singapore Airlines is currently working to rebook affected passengers on alternative flights or arrange accommodations. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
