Frankfurt, June 16 - Lufthansa flight LH752, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner en route from Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday, June 15, 2025, to Hyderabad, India, was forced to make an unexpected mid-air return to its departure airport. The flight, which departed Frankfurt International Airport around 2:14 PM local time, was scheduled to arrive at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport early Monday morning. However, a few hours into the journey, the aircraft reversed course and safely landed back in Frankfurt at approximately 5:30 PM local time. This incident, involving one of Lufthansa’s state-of-the-art Dreamliners, has raised questions about the circumstances that led to the abrupt turnaround, with initial reports pointing to a lack of landing permission in India as the primary reason.
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The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, a modern and fuel-efficient aircraft, is a cornerstone of Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet, designed to provide enhanced passenger comfort with features like larger windows, advanced cabin pressurization, and a quieter interior. Flight LH752, carrying passengers including a woman traveling from the United States to visit her mother in Hyderabad, was expected to cover the 4,416-mile journey in approximately eight and a half hours. According to flight tracking data from platforms like FlightAware, the aircraft had not entered Indian airspace when the decision was made to return to Frankfurt. Air Traffic Control at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport received notification from the flight crew shortly after takeoff, confirming the aircraft’s return to Germany. Passengers were informed mid-flight that the plane lacked permission to land in Hyderabad, though no further details were provided at the time.
Upon landing back in Frankfurt, Lufthansa promptly arranged overnight accommodation for passengers and rescheduled the flight for Monday morning. A Frankfurt Airport spokesperson confirmed the safe return of LH752 but directed further inquiries to the airline or federal police, indicating that the reasons for the aborted flight remained unclear. While some sources speculated about a possible security concern, such as a suspected bomb threat, no official confirmation of such a threat has been provided by Lufthansa or relevant authorities. The lack of immediate comment from Indian authorities in Hyderabad has added to the uncertainty surrounding the incident.
Additionally, Lufthansa’s own history with the 787-9 includes a recent incident in Hyderabad on May 21, 2025, when a flight aborted takeoff due to a nose gear issue, though all passengers were safely evacuated. Despite these challenges, Lufthansa has continued to expand its use of the 787-9, with the aircraft serving key routes to India, including Hyderabad, since the airline resumed service to the city in January 2024. The carrier’s commitment to the Indian market remains strong, with Hyderabad being its fifth destination in the country, supported by the Dreamliner’s efficiency and modern amenities. Lufthansa has yet to release an official statement detailing the precise cause of the incident, and investigations are likely underway to clarify why landing permission was not secured. For now, passengers affected by the disruption were accommodated, and the flight was rescheduled, ensuring their journey could continue with minimal delay.