A KLM Cityhopper Embraer E195-E2 was forced to abandon its climb out of Amsterdam on February 25th 2026 after the crew reported they were unable to accelerate due to a flap or slat issue—marking the second such return for the same aircraft in less than a week.
The KLM Cityhopper Embraer E195-E2, registered PH-NXG, was operating flight KL-1985 from Amsterdam to Belgrade. After departing runway 18L at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the aircraft climbed to Flight Level 130 before the crew levelled off, advising air traffic control they could not accelerate as expected due to a suspected flap or slat malfunction.
With the aircraft unable to transition cleanly to its normal climb configuration, the crew elected to return to Schiphol. The jet landed safely on runway 18R at a higher than normal approach speed, consistent with procedures for certain high-lift system abnormalities.
Notably, the same aircraft had already returned to Amsterdam on February 20th 2026 due to a slat problem, raising questions about a recurring technical issue. Following the February 25th event, a replacement Embraer E195-E2, registered PH-NXS, operated the onward flight to Belgrade, arriving with a delay of about two hours.
As of February 27th 2026, PH-NXG remained on the ground in Amsterdam, approximately 45 hours after its precautionary landing, as maintenance teams conducted further inspections.
Flaps and slats are critical components of an aircraft’s high-lift system, allowing safe low-speed handling during takeoff and landing. When these systems do not retract or function as expected, flight crews must carefully manage airspeed and configuration. In this case, adherence to procedure ensured a safe return, but the repeat occurrence within days will likely draw close technical scrutiny.
