An Emirates Airbus A380 service from London to Dubai was forced to return to Heathrow on New Year’s Eve after the flight crew reported a technical fault with the aircraft’s landing gear system, prompting a two hour mid air hold over southeast England and renewed attention on safety protocols along one of the world’s busiest long haul corridors.

More News

New Year’s Eve flight turns back over landing gear fault

Emirates flight EK002 departed London Heathrow for Dubai on December 31, 2025, operating with an Airbus A380 800 registered A6 EUF.

The aircraft left Heathrow’s runway 27L shortly after 2.30 pm local time, bound for Dubai International Airport on the seven hour sector that connects two of the carrier’s key hubs.

Shortly after take off, the crew reported an anomaly in the landing gear system, understood by aviation outlets and eyewitnesses to involve a landing gear door that failed to close properly after the wheels had retracted.

The issue triggered established cockpit procedures and communication with air traffic control as the aircraft stopped its initial climb and instead levelled off over southeast England.

Rather than continue toward the Gulf, the pilots made the decision to return to Heathrow as a precaution.

The airline later confirmed the technical fault and said the aircraft had returned to London shortly after departure, stressing that passenger and crew safety remained its overriding priority.

Circling over southeast London to burn off fuel

Because EK002 was heavily fueled for the long haul to Dubai, it quickly became clear that an immediate landing back at Heathrow was not an option.

Like most wide body aircraft, the A380 has a maximum landing weight that is considerably lower than its maximum take off weight. Landing significantly above that limit can place serious stress on the airframe, landing gear and braking systems.

To mitigate these risks, the crew climbed to around 10,000 feet and entered a prolonged holding pattern over southeast London and parts of Kent.

Flight tracking data and eyewitness accounts indicate the superjumbo circled for around 90 minutes, with observers on the ground noting that the landing gear remained visibly extended for much of the time as the pilots worked through their checklists.

The extended racetrack style loops over the capital and its outskirts allowed the A380 to burn off large quantities of fuel in a controlled manner, bringing the aircraft back within safe landing weight parameters.

While some A380s are equipped with fuel jettison systems, crews often prefer to manage weight through normal engine fuel burn where time, weather and airspace conditions allow, particularly when operating close to a major international hub with dense surrounding air traffic.

Safe landing back at Heathrow and passenger handling

After nearly two hours in the hold and with its weight reduced to within certified limits, flight EK002 was cleared to approach Heathrow.

The aircraft landed safely on runway 27R at around 4.28 pm, with airport emergency services positioned along the runway and taxiways as a precautionary measure in line with standard practice for such incidents.

There were no reports of injuries on board and passengers disembarked normally at the terminal. Emirates said all travellers booked on the disrupted service would be re accommodated on later flights from Heathrow to Dubai.

Given the timing on New Year’s Eve and strong holiday demand on the route, rebooking efforts were expected to stretch into the following days, with airline staff arranging overnight accommodation where necessary.

For many on board, the experience amounted to an unexpectedly long sightseeing circuit over London. Social media posts and flight tracking platforms showed EK002 becoming one of the most watched flights globally during the episode, as aviation enthusiasts and concerned relatives monitored the A380’s looping track in real time before its eventual return to Heathrow.

Technical inspections and focus on the A380 fleet

Following the safe landing, the affected A380 was taken out of service and towed to a remote stand and then to an engineering facility at Heathrow for detailed inspection by Emirates and maintenance teams.

Reports from specialist aviation publications suggested that a main landing gear door remained partially open after retraction, an issue that can increase aerodynamic drag and, if left unresolved, risk further mechanical complications.

Such faults are typically traced to components within the landing gear actuation or sensor systems and are subject to rigorous investigation.

Engineers are expected to review recent maintenance records, flight data and cockpit reports to determine precisely what triggered the problem and whether any parts require repair or replacement before the aircraft can be returned to commercial service.

The aircraft involved is understood to be around nine years old, relatively young for a long haul wide body and part of Emirates’ extensive A380 fleet, which remains the backbone of its high density operations between Dubai and major global hubs.

The airline has invested heavily in cabin refurbishments and ongoing maintenance for the type, and any technical incident on a flagship route invariably triggers heightened scrutiny from both regulators and the travelling public.

Airline response and reassurance for travelers

In statements to regional and international media, Emirates characterised the return to Heathrow as a precaution taken in line with strict safety procedures.

The carrier emphasised that the flight crew reacted promptly to the technical indication, coordinated closely with air traffic control and followed established protocols designed to protect passengers and crew in exactly this kind of scenario.

While disruptions on holiday travel days can be particularly frustrating for passengers, industry analysts noted that the decision to hold, burn fuel and then land back at the departure airport reflects a conservative and safety first mindset that is deeply embedded in commercial aviation.

The airline issued apologies for the inconvenience and reiterated that operational decisions would never compromise safety to preserve schedule or convenience.

For Emirates, which has built much of its brand around premium service and reliability on long haul routes, transparent communication in the wake of such events is key.

Travel experts say that explaining in clear terms why a diversion was necessary, and what steps are being taken to investigate the fault, can help maintain passenger confidence even when flights do not go as planned.

Heathrow Dubai corridor under the spotlight

The incident highlights the intensity of operations on the Heathrow Dubai corridor, one of the world’s busiest intercontinental links.

Emirates currently operates multiple daily services between the two hubs, predominantly with A380s, and had recently expanded capacity to meet rising demand from both business and leisure travelers.

New Year’s Eve and the early January period are traditionally among the busiest times of year for Gulf carriers, as residents and tourists shuttle between Europe, the Middle East and onward destinations in Asia, Africa and Australasia.

Airlines and airport authorities in both the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates had already warned of heavy traffic and urged passengers to arrive early for departures over the holiday window.

Although diversions and returns are relatively rare given the volume of flights on the route, they are statistically inevitable across such a dense schedule.

Aviation data shows that most technical returns occur without incident, with aircraft landing safely back at an appropriate airport after crews identify an irregularity in cockpit systems or external indications.

Understanding technical faults and aviation safety

Industry specialists stress that a technical fault does not necessarily imply a catastrophic failure or an immediate threat to the aircraft. Modern airliners such as the Airbus A380 are designed with extensive redundancy, meaning that key systems have backup components and multiple layers of monitoring.

When a sensor or mechanism behaves unexpectedly, conservative design and operating philosophy favor stepping back from the mission until engineers can carry out a full assessment.

Landing gear issues are among the more visible types of technical problems, particularly when doors or wheels remain extended longer than usual.

While this can increase drag and fuel burn, the primary concern for crews is whether the gear will function reliably for landing and whether any abnormal configuration could cause secondary damage during flight.

For passengers, the sight of emergency vehicles waiting on the runway or the knowledge that their flight has been circling for an extended period can be unsettling.

Aviation authorities and airlines routinely point out, however, that these precautions are built into the system to ensure multiple levels of protection.

The fact that EK002 returned safely to Heathrow, with all on board disembarking normally, will be cited by many experts as a textbook example of safety protocols working as intended.

FAQ

Q1: What exactly happened to the Emirates flight from Heathrow to Dubai?
The Emirates flight EK002 from London Heathrow to Dubai experienced a technical fault with its landing gear system shortly after take off on December 31, 2025, leading the crew to halt the climb, enter a holding pattern over southeast England and then return to Heathrow for a precautionary landing.

Q2: Was anyone injured during the incident?
No injuries were reported. The aircraft landed safely back at Heathrow, and passengers and crew disembarked normally with emergency services on standby only as a precaution.

Q3: Why did the aircraft circle over London for so long?
The A380 had taken off with a full fuel load for the long haul to Dubai and was above its maximum landing weight, so the pilots circled for around 90 minutes at about 10,000 feet to burn off fuel and reduce the aircraft’s weight to a safe level before landing.

Q4: What type of aircraft was involved?
The flight was operated by an Airbus A380 800, the world’s largest passenger airliner, registered A6 EUF and part of Emirates’ flagship long haul fleet on the Heathrow Dubai route.

Q5: How serious is a landing gear door fault?
A landing gear door that does not close properly can create extra drag and potentially lead to further mechanical issues, so it is treated seriously, but such faults are typically manageable when identified early, allowing crews to follow procedures and return safely to an airport for inspection.

Q6: What happened to the passengers after the flight returned to Heathrow?
After landing, passengers were taken back into the terminal, where Emirates staff began rebooking them onto later services to Dubai and arranging hotel accommodation or other assistance where needed, given the disruption on New Year’s Eve.

Q7: Will this incident affect Emirates’ A380 operations on the route?
The affected aircraft will remain out of service until engineers complete their inspections and any necessary repairs, but Emirates operates a large A380 fleet on the Heathrow Dubai corridor, so the overall schedule is expected to continue with only limited short term adjustments.

Q8: Are such technical returns common in commercial aviation?
Given the vast number of flights operated worldwide each day, technical returns and diversions do occur, but they remain relatively rare events and are handled under strict safety protocols that prioritise a controlled outcome over keeping to schedule.

Q9: How will authorities investigate this incident?
Emirates engineering teams will review maintenance logs, flight data and cockpit reports to determine the root cause of the landing gear issue, while aviation regulators may monitor the process or request information to ensure all safety and reporting obligations are met.

Q10: Should travelers be worried about flying this route after the incident?
Aviation experts generally view this kind of event as evidence that safety systems work as designed, since the crew identified a fault, chose the safest option and landed without injuries, so passengers can remain confident in flying between Heathrow and Dubai on Emirates and other carriers.