A U.S.-bound American Airlines flight was met with emergency services at London’s Heathrow Airport after a technical issue forced its return shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, en route to Philadelphia, diverted back to London following reports of malfunctioning flaps. Flightradar24 confirmed the plane safely returned to LHR and taxied to a remote stand, though emergency vehicles were dispatched as a precaution.
Authorities noted concerns about the plane’s weight upon landing, though no further details were provided. The London Fire Brigade stated no direct action was required by firefighters during the incident.
This follows a separate fire earlier this week at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 car park, where a vehicle blaze damaged property but caused no injuries. A Heathrow spokesperson described the incident as isolated and apologized for disruptions. Earlier this year, the airport faced significant delays after a nearby electricity substation fire forced a temporary closure, impacting over 270,000 travelers.