KLM Flight KL791 declared an emergency mid-flight on Friday, June 19, and made a U-turn after issuing an emergency code, Squawk 7700, broadcasting to air traffic control. The aircraft landed safely at Amsterdam Airport (AMS).
The Emergency
The KLM long-haul service operated by a Boeing 777-300ER (registration PH-BVS) was scheduled to fly from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) to São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in Brazil.
According to flight-tracking data, while en route over southern England, the flight crew broadcast a 7700 squawk code, signalling a general emergency to air traffic controllers. Due to a suspected oil leak, the aircraft executed a U-turn before making a safe precautionary landing back at Amsterdam Schiphol at 3:44 p.m. CEST.
Even though they were only about an hour away from Amsterdam, the entire flight lasted 2 hours and 27 minutes. This is because a fully fuelled Boeing 777-300ER loaded for an 11-hour intercontinental flight to Brazil is too heavy to land safely right away. The pilots had to spend time circling in a holding pattern over the North Sea to dump and burn off excess fuel to reach a safe landing weight before touchdown.
The Safe Return
After declaring an emergency over southern England due to a suspected oil leak, the pilots initiated a U-turn and flew back towards the Netherlands and landed at AMS at 3:44 p.m. CEST on runway 27.
As is standard protocol for a 7700 emergency declaration, emergency ground crews and airport fire services met the widebody jet on the tarmac upon landing.
No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. The aircraft taxied safely to gate F3, where passengers were deplaned and accommodated onto a replacement scheduled service later that afternoon.
KLM’s engineering and maintenance teams are currently conducting a comprehensive diagnostic review of the twin-engine jet.
Have you ever been on a flight that declared an emergency? Let us know your experience in the comments.
