An Emirates Airbus A380 operating a scheduled service from London Heathrow to Dubai was forced to return to its departure airport on December 31, 2025, after encountering a technical issue shortly after takeoff.
Flight EK2, operated by an A380-800 registered A6-EUF, departed Heathrow from runway 27L and began its initial climb. The aircraft stopped its climb at approximately 6,000 feet due to a problem related to the landing gear. After stabilizing the situation, the crew climbed to flight level 100 and entered a holding pattern to assess the issue.
The aircraft remained in the hold for around 80 minutes before the crew decided to return to Heathrow as a precaution. The A380 landed safely on runway 27R about one hour and 55 minutes after departure.
According to a passenger account, the crew attempted to recycle the landing gear several times and later entered a holding pattern over the Biggin Hill area to troubleshoot the problem. Ground observers subsequently reported that one of the main or body gear doors appeared to remain open during the flight.
Emirates confirmed that the aircraft returned to Heathrow due to a technical problem. No injuries were reported, and passengers disembarked normally after the aircraft reached the gate.
As of approximately 25.5 hours after landing, the aircraft remains on the ground in London while technical inspections and maintenance checks are ongoing. Emirates stated that the decision to return was made in line with standard safety procedures, emphasizing that passenger and crew safety remained the airline’s top priority.
