New Delhi, June 16,2025:
Two long haul flights headed for India experienced technical and security problems, forcing mid-air returns, setting off a day of unexpected airborne events.
Lufthansa makes a U-turn due to a bomb threat. Lufthansa flight LH752, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was traveling from Frankfurt to Hyderabad on Sunday night when it abruptly made a U-turn in midair and returned to Frankfurt. Later, an airport official in Hyderabad confirmed that it was because of a "bomb threat". According to Indian authorities, the decision was made out of "an abundance of caution." When the plane turned back, it had already passed over Bulgarian airspace. All of the crew and passengers were safe in spite of the alarm. After it returned, local police thoroughly inspected it, and an investigation has been started to determine the validity of the threat .
British Airways must return due to a flap failure. Shortly after takeoff, British Airways flight BA35, which was flying a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from London Heathrow to Chennai, experienced a wing-flap system malfunction. According to reports, pilots reached about 15,000 feet before opting to turn around as a precaution and dump fuel over southern England and the Channel in order to make a safe landing.
Around 13:50 BST, the plane made its return landing at Heathrow. A representative for British Airways emphasised that all 214 passengers disembarked normally and that "this was not an emergency landing." Plans are underway to resume their travels.
Focus on the aviation safety review When combined, these events demonstrate the strict safety measures that regulators and airlines implement, even in cases where alarms are merely preventative. The BA crew's prompt action avoided a possible flap related landing hazard, and the Lufthansa flight returned without any problems.
Affected passengers are being accommodated and rebooked as a result of the investigations that both airlines have started. Global travelers can rest easy knowing that, in both situations, professional training and attentiveness made sure that safety was never jeopardised, even when crucial decisions had to be made in midair.