Flight to Okinawa diverts back to Hong Kong after suspected landing gear fault

A flight bound for Okinawa returned to Hong Kong airport on Sunday morning after its landing gear was suspected to have failed to fully retract after take-off.

Hong Kong Airlines said the crew of flight HX676, which departed at 8.57am, decided to return to ensure flight safety, in line with standard procedures.

“[The flight] encountered a suspected incomplete landing gear retraction issue after take-off,” the airline said.

The aircraft landed safely at 10am, with no injuries reported on board. The airline immediately arranged an alternative flight for the 160 affected passengers, delaying their trip by about 2½ hours.

According to the carrier’s website, the replacement flight departed at 12.07pm.

The aircraft is undergoing a comprehensive inspection.

The airline said it had reported the incident to the relevant authorities and would fully cooperate with any subsequent investigation.

“Flight safety is always Hong Kong Airlines’ foremost priority,” it said. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to our passengers and thank them for their understanding and cooperation.”

The Airport Authority said the flight had requested to return to the airport and that airport crews were placed on standby.