Lufthansa Flight LH2473 declared an emergency right after take-off from London Heathrow today, before being forced to turn around and land
15:11, 22 Jan 2026Updated 16:16, 22 Jan 2026
The plane’s flight map(Image: Air Nav Radar)
A Lufthansa plane declared a mid-air emergency over London moments after take-off from Heathrow today.
Flight LH2473, operated by an Airbus A320neo and bound for Munich, Germany, departed the runway at 11:36am. But tracking data shows the plane immediately halted its departure and initiated a sharp turn back toward the airport.
Then, flight crew transmitted a Squawk 7700 code – internationally known as the signal for a general emergency. The aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 14,000 feet when the alert was sounded.
A Lufthansa statement, given to MirrorOnline, simply read: “The flight had to return to LHR due to technical issues.”
The Lufthansa flight from London to Germany had to be abandoned (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
Aviation news network AIRLIVE reports it took more than half an hour for the plane to land. After it returned to the runway, the aircraft was met by ground crews and directed to a remote stand.
“The aircraft landed safely and all passengers are being assisted by ground staff,” the publication quote a spokesperson as saying.
The specific nature of the onboard issue that prompted the flight to be abandoned is yet to be confirmed. The plane landed back at Heathrow at 12:07pm, and passengers are in the process of being rebooked.
Last week an Air India flight to the UK was forced to divert after pilots declared an emergency. Flight AI117, travelling from Amritsar in India’s Punjab state, issued a “Squawk 7700” – the radio code for a general emergency – as it approached Birmingham Airport on January 10.
Heavy snowfall and freezing conditions from Storm Goretti had reduced visibility to below 500 metres, under the minimum required for a successful touchdown.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner diverted near Leamington Spa, turning towards London, according to flight-tracking data. The emergency was triggered by a “Minimum Fuel” situation, as the plane’s holding pattern depleted reserves beyond what was safe for another orbit. The emergency code gave the plane priority handling from Air Traffic Control.
The flight was rerouted to Heathrow, where longer runways and Category III Instrument Landing Systems provide a higher safety margin. The airliner landed safely in London.