On Jan 23rd 2026, a Compass Air Cargo Boeing 747-400 operating on behalf of Emirates was forced to return to Hong Kong after the crew detected severe vibrations in one of the aircraft’s engines shortly after departure.
The jumbo jet, registered LZ-CJB, was performing flight EK-9239 from Hong Kong, China, to Dubai Al Maktoum in the United Arab Emirates when the incident occurred. While climbing out from runway 25L, the crew halted the climb at around flight level 160 after reporting unusually high vibrations in the number four CF6 engine. Following standard procedures, the pilots shut the affected engine down and coordinated a return to their departure airport.
The aircraft remained airborne for nearly two hours as the crew managed the abnormal situation and prepared for a safe landing. It touched down without further incident on runway 07L at Hong Kong, where it vacated the runway normally.
As of around 9.5 hours after landing, the aircraft was still on the ground at Hong Kong International Airport while inspections and maintenance checks were underway. No injuries were reported, and the event highlighted the importance of continuous engine monitoring and crew decision-making when abnormal indications arise during critical phases of flight.
