Manchester, United Kingdom: An Emirates Airbus A380 was grounded at Manchester Airport after a fuel truck struck the aircraft during ground operations, forcing the airline to cancel its scheduled return service to Dubai. The aircraft resumed operations after undergoing inspections and repairs, according to multiple aviation industry reports.
The incident occurred on 28 November 2025, shortly after the superjumbo had arrived from Dubai operating flight EK17. While parked at the gate during turnaround preparations for its return flight EK18, a fuel truck made contact with one of the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce Trent engines, damaging the engine intake cowling.
Initial reports confirmed that the aircraft, registered A6-EVP, sustained visible structural damage to the engine intake area. Despite the impact, no injuries were reported, and airport emergency protocols were not triggered.
Due to the damage, Emirates cancelled flight EK18, leaving the aircraft grounded at Manchester for detailed technical inspection. Engineers assessed the aircraft on site to determine whether the damage extended beyond the intake structure.
According to follow-up reports, Emirates completed essential repairs within two days. The A380 returned to active service on 30 November 2025, operating as flight EK20 from Manchester to Dubai, restoring normal wide-body operations on the route.
Industry analysts noted that while the damage was limited, even minor engine intake deformation on an A380 requires immediate grounding due to strict safety regulations governing wide-body aircraft and high-bypass turbofans.
As of the latest update, neither Emirates nor Manchester Airport has released an official statement confirming the root cause of the collision, and no public details have emerged regarding whether the fuel truck driver or ground-handling agency faced disciplinary action.
