TOKYO- A British Airways (BA) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, operating flight BA9171 from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), returned to Tokyo after the crew reported a flight control issue shortly after departure on August 15, 2025.
The aircraft, registered G-ZBKI, declared a PAN-PAN and entered a holding pattern to troubleshoot the problem before carrying out a fuel dump to reach safe landing weight. It later landed safely at Haneda (HND) with no passengers on board, only three pilots.
Photo: By Mark Harkin – G-ZBKB Boeing 787-9 British Airways, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60416702
British 787 Pilots Make U-Turn
The Boeing 787-9, known internally at British Airways as part of its long-haul fleet, departed Tokyo Haneda (HND) and began its climb when the crew declared a PAN-PAN, signaling an urgent but not life-threatening situation.
At around 2,100 feet, the pilots reported a flight control issue to Tokyo Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Controllers cleared the flight to level off at 10,000 feet and hold over designated waypoints while the crew ran checklists. The pilots made it clear early on that the aircraft would not be continuing to London Heathrow (LHR) and instead would return to Tokyo.
Since the Dreamliner was heavy with fuel for the long intercontinental sector, the crew needed to dump fuel before attempting a safe landing.
ATC coordinated a holding pattern over the ABEE area, where the crew carried out jettison procedures at 10,000 feet. The operation lasted about 40 minutes.
Once fuel dumping was complete, the crew requested the longest available runway with a straight-in approach. They specifically asked for runway 16L at Tokyo Haneda (HND), citing the need for favorable headwind conditions to assist with control and handling.
Tokyo controllers provided radar vectors for a 20-mile final approach to runway 16L. With approximately four hours of fuel remaining, the crew confirmed they required no emergency services upon landing.
The aircraft made an uneventful touchdown on runway 16L and taxied under its own power to parking stand 64. No injuries or damage were reported.
Photo: By Mark Harkin – G-ZBKB Boeing 787-9 British Airways, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60416702
ATC and Pilots’ Comms
Here’s a detailed conversation between British Airways pilots and Tokyo Haneda ATC as flagged by You Can See ATC:
{ts:20}
Pilot (Speedbird 9171): Passing altitude 2,100, climbing FL250. PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN. Speedbird 9171 requests direct to DENNY to take up the hold. We have flight control issues.
ATC: Heading 360 please, Speedbird 9171.
{ts:48}
ATC: Speedbird 9171, contact departure 120.8.
Pilot: 120.8, departure, Speedbird 9171, PAN. We’re heading 360 degrees.
{ts:71}
ATC (Tokyo Departure): Speedbird 9171, request your intention. Do you have any problems?
Pilot: Requesting to hold at DENNY, need to run some checklists, and then we’ll be returning. Can we level off at 12,000 feet or less?
{ts:99}
ATC: Maintain altitude 10,000.
{ts:110}
Pilot: We’re still heading 360, how about radar vector hold?
ATC: Continue heading 360.
{ts:129}
ATC: May I ask the nature of your problem?
Pilot: We have a flight control issue, need to run checklist before we return. We won’t be continuing.
{ts:153}
ATC: Can you hold over NOVEL (NOBLE)?
Pilot: Cleared direct to NOVEL, please confirm hold.
{ts:177}
ATC: Speed at your discretion, inbound course for NOVEL hold is 264, left turns.
{ts:219}
Pilot: Just for information, due to flight control issues, we’ll be returning to Haneda but need to jettison some fuel—will take around 40 minutes. Can we jettison in NOVEL area?
ATC: Expect to fuel jettison around the south side of our area. Now turn right heading 170 for fuel jettison, maintain 10,000.
{ts:277}
ATC: Confirm, will let you know when you can start jettison.
{ts:310}
ATC: Left heading 180, Speedbird 9171.
{ts:336}
ATC: Coordinating fuel jettison area, how about ABEE holding for fuel jettison?
{ts:351}
Pilot: Can you spell the place to hold?
ATC: ABEE—Alpha Victor Echo Echo Yankee.
{ts:369}
Pilot: Plan is now coordinating hold over ABEE for fuel jettison.
{ts:381}
Pilot: We’re happy to fuel jettison over ABEE.
{ts:423}
ATC: Are you planning dump altitude 10,000 or another?
Pilot: Happy at 10,000 for jettison.
{ts:434}
ATC: After fuel jettison, which runway do you want?
Pilot: After dumping, we need to return, requesting straight-in approach and longest available runway.
{ts:449}
ATC: Straight-in approach, runway 22.
Pilot: Requesting ILS for 16 left.
{ts:494}
ATC: Understood, standby for coordination. Requesting 16 left, confirmed.
{ts:532}
Pilot: We have flight control issues, need a headwind. Requesting 16 left.
{ts:554}
ATC: Left heading 160, join ABEE hold, inbound course 314.
{ts:622}
ATC: Hazardous material or passengers on board?
Pilot: No hazmat, no passengers, only 3 pilots onboard.
{ts:650}
Pilot: May we do extended 10-mile distance in the hold while jettisoning fuel?
ATC: Approved, any leg approved.
{ts:706}
Pilot: Request to start fuel jettison after entering hold.
ATC: Cleared.
{ts:797}
Pilot: We’re in the hold, cleared.
{ts:822}
Pilot: Maintaining 10,000 ft in ABEE hold. We have now completed fuel dumping.
{ts:844}
Pilot: Request radar vectors for a 20-mile approach to 16 left.
{ts:872}
ATC: Radar vector 340, maintaining 10,000, request 20-mile straight-in approach.
{ts:906}
ATC: Request remaining fuel and time.
Pilot: We have 4 hours fuel.
{ts:918}
Pilot: Confirm heading, altimeter 29.96.
{ts:954}
ATC: Do you need any assistance after landing?
Pilot: Negative, Speedbird 9171.
{ts:1046}
ATC: Intercept, cleared ILS runway 16 left.
{ts:1075}
ATC: No speed restriction; localizer established, contact tower 124.35.
{ts:1105}
Tower: Good morning, Speedbird 9171, 13 miles 16 left.
Pilot: Good morning, runway 16 left, parking bay 64, clear to land.
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