ZURICH- Edelweiss flight WK34 returned to Zurich on October 17, 2026, after a landing gear malfunction prevented its Airbus A340-300 from retracting the centre landing gear following take-off. The aircraft, registered as HB-JMC, was heading from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic.
The incident forced the crew to manage the aircraft’s excess fuel before returning to Zurich, as the jet had departed for a long-haul flight and remained too heavy for a normal landing shortly after take-off. Edelweiss confirmed that the aircraft landed safely at approximately 3:00 p.m. local time, and the airline subsequently operated the flight again that evening following maintenance work.
Edelweiss A340 Returns to Zurich
The A340 initially stopped its climb at around 8,000 feet and entered a holding pattern while the crew assessed the landing gear problem. It later climbed to approximately 22,000 feet before turning back toward Zurich, where it landed on Runway 34 roughly 90 minutes after departure.
Flight-tracking data and reports from Swiss media documented the aircraft’s return.
The centre landing gear is an additional set of wheels installed beneath the A340’s fuselage.
Edelweiss spokesperson Andreas Marti confirmed that the gear had failed to retract, requiring the crew to discontinue the flight rather than continue toward the Caribbean with the malfunction unresolved.
A340 Dumps Fuel Over Alps
HB-JMC carried a substantial fuel load for its planned transatlantic journey, making an immediate return more complicated. The aircraft needed to reduce its weight before landing, and the crew released approximately 45 tonnes of fuel over the Alps, according to Swiss media reports.
Fuel jettison systems allow compatible aircraft to reduce their weight when a return to the departure airport becomes necessary soon after take-off.
Landing significantly above the approved landing weight can increase the demands on an aircraft’s structure, landing gear, brakes and tyres.
The crew’s holding pattern also provided time to assess the situation and prepare for the return. Edelweiss stated that passengers were not in danger during the incident. After landing, the aircraft underwent technical inspections before engineers replaced the faulty component.
Flight Resumes After Repair
The A340 remained on the ground for approximately two hours while maintenance teams worked on the aircraft. Reports in Swiss media described the issue as involving a landing gear door, although Edelweiss did not publicly identify the precise component it replaced.
The aircraft departed Zurich again at 5:10 p.m. local time on the same WK34 service.
Edelweiss reported a departure delay of three hours and 40 minutes, and the flight subsequently continued to Punta Cana without a further reported incident, Mig Flug reported.
The event also involved an ageing aircraft approaching the end of its service with the Swiss leisure airline. HB-JMC is approximately 23 years old, and Edelweiss plans to operate it only until January 2027 as it transitions away from the Airbus A340 fleet toward the more modern A350.
The return to Zurich therefore interrupted the flight but did not prevent passengers from continuing their journey that day.
The crew’s decision to return, reduce the aircraft’s weight and arrange repairs allowed the service to resume after the technical issue was addressed.
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