Amsterdam, Netherlands: A Surinam Airways flight from Amsterdam to Paramaribo suffered a landing gear door malfunction on May 8, creating significant aerodynamic drag and increased fuel burn that forced the aircraft to return to Amsterdam as a precaution. The flight was being operated by Universal Sky Carrier under a wet-lease arrangement using a former Lufthansa Airbus A340-600.
After identifying the issue, the crew opted to discontinue the flight and initiated a precautionary return to Schiphol. The aircraft reportedly remained airborne for some time to manage fuel levels before safely landing back in Amsterdam without further incident. No injuries among passengers or crew were reported. Emergency services were positioned as a standard precaution during the aircraft’s return.
The disruption resulted in a delay to the Amsterdam-Paramaribo service as the aircraft required technical inspection following landing. The mandatory crew rest requirements and maintenance checks led to the flight being rescheduled for departure on May 10.
The incident comes as Surinam Airways continues relying on Airbus A340 aircraft for its long-haul Amsterdam operations amid ongoing fleet and operational challenges.
The carrier has operated multiple leased A340 variants over recent years, including aircraft previously sourced from Air Belgium and other operators for the Paramaribo route. The airline has faced earlier operational disruptions involving Airbus A340 aircraft, including flap-related return incidents and temporary aircraft groundings on the Amsterdam sector.
While no official technical statement has yet been released detailing the exact cause of the landing gear door malfunction, the aircraft landed safely and no damage or injuries were reported.
