Thai Airways Boeing 777 returns to Frankfurt after landing gear emergency

A Thai Airways Boeing 777-300ER flight from Frankfurt to Bangkok was forced to return to Frankfurt Airport on August 21, 2026, after declaring an emergency shortly after takeoff.

The crew reported a hydraulic failure that prevented the left main landing gear from retracting. Following the discovery, pilots halted their climb at 13,000 feet and entered a holding pattern near the airport. Because the aircraft was fully fueled for its long-haul journey, the crew performed a mid-air fuel dump to reduce the plane's weight for a safe landing.

The aircraft landed safely on runway 25C approximately 80 minutes after departure. All passengers and crew disembarked without injury, and the plane taxied to a remote stand. Authorities are investigating the technical fault that caused the landing gear malfunction.