It's flight KL 705. The plane was a Boeing 777 en route from Schiphol to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After about forty minutes in the air, the pilots reported a technical problem, after which the Boeing plane turned around.
Air traffic control reported that the plane dropped kerosene over the North Sea before making a precautionary landing. Emergency services went to the scene in Schiphol, as is usual in such situations.
A KLM spokesperson says the passengers were not in danger. They will be transferred to Rio de Janeiro later today on another plane.
It happens often
According to aviation expert from TU Delft, Joris Melkert, precautionary landings like today happen “with some regularity.”
Melkert tells RTL News that it makes sense for the Boeing 777 to return to Schiphol. “If pilots encounter something they're not completely confident in, it's more convenient to return to their home base,” he says. “There are technicians here who can inspect the plane.”
Dumped kerosene
The main disadvantage for the airline is that the plane has to dump almost all of its fuel over the sea. “It takes time and money,” Melkert says.
In recent months, aircraft manufacturer Boeing has been regularly in the news due to technical problems with aircraft. Several aircraft lost parts such as emergency slides or parts of the engine cover, wheels, or door panel in the air.
The US regulator is investigating whether inspections on Boeing planes were tampered with.
