Japan-bound flight returns over landing gear problem

A Hong Kong Airlines flight bound for Okinawa in Japan returned to Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday morning after its landing gear was suspected to have failed to retract fully after taking off. According to flight tracking website flightaware.com, flight HX676 turned back and landed at the SAR at 10.06am, about an hour after take-off. The airline said the flight returned in accordance with standard safety procedures. It said no one on board was injured, and the plane was undergoing an inspection. An alternative flight was arranged for the roughly 160 affected passengers. The replacement flight landed at Naha Airport in Okinawa shortly after 3.30pm Japan time, a delay of around two-and-a-half hours from the original schedule. The carrier apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused, adding that it will fully cooperate with the authorities in their investigation. Edited by Edmond Fong

2026-10-04 18:19:00