LONDON, UK — An Emirates Airbus A380 bound for Dubai was forced to turn back and circle over London after experiencing a problem with its landing gear shortly after taking off from London Heathrow Airport on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025.
The aircraft — flight EK002, an Airbus A380‑800 registered as A6‑EUF — departed Heathrow’s Runway 27L at about 14:30 UTC but soon reported a landing gear system anomaly, reportedly involving the landing gear doors not fully closing properly. As a result, the flight crew elected to return safely to Heathrow instead of continuing to Dubai.
Why the Aircraft Circled
After take‑off, the flight entered a holding pattern over southeast London, circling at an altitude of about 10,000 feet for nearly 90 to 120 minutes.
This delay allowed the aircraft to burn off excess fuel and reach a safe landing weight, a standard safety procedure when large long‑haul aircraft such as the A380 must return shortly after departure.
Observers on the ground reported that the aircraft was flying with its landing gear partially extended or gear doors visibly open during the holding pattern.
Safe Return to Heathrow
The A380 was cleared to land back at Heathrow’s Runway 27R around 16:28 UTC after fuel levels had reduced sufficiently and the aircraft was within permitted weight limits for landing.
Emergency services were on standby as a precaution, although the aircraft touched down safely and without incident.
All passengers and crew were safely disembarked following the precautionary return.
Passenger Impact and Airline Response
According to Emirates, the flight — originally set to arrive in Dubai early on January 1 — was disrupted due to the technical fault.
The airline stated that passengers and crew will be rebooked on future flights from Heathrow and issued an apology for the inconvenience, emphasising that passenger and crew safety remains the airline’s top priority.
While there were no reported injuries, the incident caused significant delay for the more than 500 passengers aboard and drew attention from aviation enthusiasts worldwide as the flight tracked in real time on platforms like Flightradar24.
What Happens Next
The aircraft was grounded at Heathrow at the time of publication and is expected to undergo detailed technical inspection and maintenance checks by engineering teams.
Investigations will focus on identifying the exact cause of the gear system anomaly before the aircraft can return to scheduled service.
