NEW YORK– A Turkish Airlines (TK) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, operating flight TK112/THY4ML from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Istanbul Airport (IST), returned to JFK after the crew reported an issue with the landing gear on September 11, 2025.
The aircraft, registered TC-LLK, was climbing out of JFK when the pilots requested to hold due to a technical problem. Unable to retract the landing gear, the crew decided to return, performing a fuel dump to reduce landing weight before completing a safe ILS approach and landing on Runway 31L.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Turkish Airlines, TC-LLC, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87337896Turkish Airlines 787 U-Turn to New York
Soon after takeoff, the crew of TK112 informed New York ATC that they were experiencing a landing gear problem. Initial instructions were to hold at 7,000 feet while communicating with the airline’s operations center to assess the situation.
When it became clear the landing gear would not retract, the pilots requested clearance to dump fuel.
Fuel jettison is a standard procedure to bring the aircraft’s weight within safe landing limits. With 240 people on board and no dangerous goods reported, the crew carried out the operation while circling in a designated holding pattern near JFK.
The Dreamliner then positioned for an ILS approach to Runway 31L. Emergency services were placed on standby, though the crew later confirmed they did not require assistance after landing.
Photo: By Adam Moreira (AEMoreira042281) – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81570442Flight Path and Communication Transcript
ATC recordings confirm the step-by-step coordination between the pilots and New York controllers. The crew initially requested holding to troubleshoot, later notifying ATC of the need to dump fuel.
Controllers provided vectors, monitored the situation, and cleared the aircraft for approach once fuel dumping was completed.
During the exchange, the pilots reported “souls on board: 240” and an expected fuel load after landing of 30.8 tons. After about 25 minutes of holding, Turkish Airlines flight TK112 was cleared to intercept the localizer for Runway 31L and performed a safe landing.
As per the latest update, the Turkish 787 remained grounded for two days at New York JFK and returned to Istanbul on September 13, 2025.
ATC and Pilots’ Comms
Here’s a detailed transcript between Turkish Airlines 787 Pilots and New York JFK ATC as flagged by You Can See ATC:
{ts:22}
Pilot (Turkish 4 Mike Lima): Good morning, Turkish 4 Mike Lima, climbing 5,000.
ATC (New York Radar): Good morning, Turkish 4 Mike Lima heavy, climb and maintain 10,000.
{ts:35}
Pilot: Maintain 10,000, Turkish 4 Mike.
{ts:38}
ATC: Turkish 4 Mike Lima heavy, turn left heading 050.
Pilot: Left heading 050, Turkish 4 Mike.
{ts:46}
ATC: What’s your speed now?
Pilot: 190.
ATC: You need to pick it up to 250, there’s jets behind you.
{ts:64}
Pilot: Turkish 4 Mike, we have a slight problem about landing gear, request holding over available point.
ATC: You’re requesting what?
Pilot: Requesting holding over available point; so far we will turn back to Kennedy.
{ts:91}
ATC: Amend your altitude, maintain 7,000. Make a right turn heading 180.
Pilot: Heading 180, maintain 7,000.
{ts:111}
ATC: What’s going on?
Pilot: Now we will call the company for the status. Will call you with further information.
{ts:125}
ATC: Okay, make a right turn heading 040.
Pilot: Heading 040.
{ts:132}
ATC: You can start a present position hold. Maintain 7,000, let me know what’s going on.
{ts:149}
Pilot: Confirm holding right turns?
ATC: Yes, right turns. Maintain 7,000.
{ts:176}
ATC: Can you describe the problem?
Pilot: Still talking with the company, probably we will need to jettison, then request to land back at Kennedy.
{ts:193}
ATC: I need to let the Tower know and, when you get a chance, more information—tell me when you know exactly what’s going on.
Pilot: Will give further information in a couple of minutes.
{ts:217}
Pilot: Yes, we will need to jettison, will take about 20–25 minutes. Souls on board: 240. No dangerous goods on board.
ATC: Total is 240? Fuel remaining?
{ts:264}
Pilot: Fuel after landing will be 30.8 (presumed tons).
ATC: 30.8, OK, thanks.
{ts:297}
Pilot: Now holding and request fuel jettison during holding.
ATC: Roger, fuel dumping approved as requested.
{ts:353}
ATC: Continue fuel dumping, continue right turn heading 180.
{ts:372}
Pilot: We haven’t started fuel dumping yet. Waiting for clearance.
ATC: Just fly heading 180—you can proceed with fuel dumping at any time.
{ts:389}
ATC: When you’re ready to come back into Kennedy it will be runway 4 left.
Pilot: Runway 4 left, thank you—now starting fuel dumping.
{ts:407}
ATC: Turn right heading 220.
Pilot: Right heading 220.
{ts:413}
ATC: Change of plans, you’ll be landing runway 31 left.
Pilot: Confirmed, runway 31 left. Will call when ready for approach.
{ts:442}
ATC: How long do you anticipate holding for fuel dumping?
Pilot: Approximately five minutes, then we will request direct for approach for runway 31 left.
{ts:463}
ATC: Make right turn heading 040.
{ts:467}
ATC: Turn right heading 180.
{ts:479}
ATC: Turn right heading 220.
{ts:488}
ATC: Turn right heading 050.
{ts:511}
ATC: Ready for the approach?
Pilot: Ready for approach to runway 31 left.
{ts:517}
ATC: Descend and maintain 3,000.
Pilot: Descend and maintain 3,000.
{ts:523}
ATC: Can you do a visual approach to runway 31 left?
Pilot: Say again please, request direct and approach runway 31 left.
{ts:552}
ATC: Turn left heading 320.
{ts:560}
ATC: Descend maintain 2,000.
{ts:567}
ATC: Reduce speed to 170.
{ts:581}
Pilot: Speed 170.
ATC: Turn left heading 290, intercept runway 31 left localizer.
{ts:609}
ATC: Eight miles from MEELS, heading 290, maintain 2,000 until established, ILS runway 31 left approach, cleared.
{ts:617}
ATC: Reduce speed to 160.
{ts:627}
ATC: Final approach speed now.
{ts:635}
ATC: Contact tower 119.1.
{ts:646}
Pilot: Turkish 4 Mike Lima heavy, good morning, 31 left.
{ts:659}
Tower: Runway 31 left, cleared to land, emergency equipment standing by.
{ts:672}
Tower: Emergency equipment standing by, thank you. After landing, contact ground.
{ts:693}
ATC: Turkish 4 Mike Lima heavy, can you exit the runway?
Pilot: Exiting Papa.
{ts:701}
ATC: Do you require any assistance?
Pilot: Negative, we don’t need assistance.
Photo: EurospotSimilar Incident
Turkish Airlines (TK) flight TK203 from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) made a precautionary return to its hub on December 25, 2024.
The Airbus A350, registered TC-LGJ, turned back after technical issues were detected mid-flight. The incident was not declared an emergency, but the airline decided to return as a safety precaution.
The widebody Airbus A350 aircraft involved in Turkish Airlines flight TK203 is 3.1 years old. According to Hava Sosyla Medya, the flight had been airborne for around four hours and 30 minutes when the technical issue arose.
At that point, the jet was near the northeast coast of Iceland. While Keflavík Airport (KEF) was a possible diversion option, the crew chose to return to Istanbul (IST), which is standard procedure if the issue is not severe.
Flight data from FlightRadar24 shows the aircraft departed Istanbul at 12:41 PM UTC. The Istanbul–Seattle route typically lasts about 12 hours, but the turnaround cut the flight short.
The airline confirmed that no emergency was declared and that the decision was purely precautionary to ensure operational safety.
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