London to Dubai flight diverted back to LHR following landing gear door failure after takeoff.
An Emirates Airbus A380, operating as flight EK2 from London Heathrow (LHR) to Dubai (DXB), was forced to make an unscheduled return to the airport this afternoon following a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff.
Incident Overview
The aircraft, a double-decker Airbus A380 with registration A6-EUF, departed from Heathrow’s runway 27L at 14:32. Shortly after becoming airborne, the flight crew reported an issue with a landing gear door.
Because the aircraft was heavily laden with fuel for its seven-hour journey to the Middle East, it was significantly above its Maximum Landing Weight (MLW). To ensure a safe arrival and avoid structural stress on the airframe, the pilots entered a holding pattern nearby.
Fuel Burn and Holding Pattern
For approximately 90 minutes, the aircraft circled at an altitude of 10,000 feet South East of London. This maneuver is standard procedure for long-haul aircraft facing technical snags; it allows the engines to consume enough fuel to lighten the plane. Unlike some aircraft, the A380 can also jettison fuel, but often preferred done over the sea.
Safe Arrival
After reducing the weight to within safe limits, the flight was cleared for an approach. The A380 touched down safely on runway 27R at 16:28, approximately two hours after its initial departure. Emergency services were on standby as a standard precaution, but the landing was executed without further incident.
Emirates is expected to inspect the aircraft at Heathrow to determine the extent of the door issue. The airline is scheduling a new departure at 17:45 from terminal 3.
