Shocking Series of Emergency Landings: Ethiopian Airlines Faces Crisis with Mid-Air Drama from Addis Ababa to Delhi, Goma, Makale, and More!

Between January 2022 and January 2026, Ethiopian Airlines experienced several emergency flight landings involving routes to and from Ethiopia, with causes ranging from technical issues to crew fatigue and hydraulic leaks. For instance, in August 2022, a flight overshot its runway after pilots fell asleep mid-flight, while in April 2024, a hydraulic leak prompted an emergency landing at Goma. Similarly, in December 2024, a technical issue with the cargo hold forced flight ET612 to return to Addis Ababa, while in September 2023, a smoke in the cockpit led to a return flight to Delhi. Another significant event occurred in July 2025, when a landing gear problem caused a runway excursion in Makale. These incidents highlight the need for heightened safety measures and maintenance protocols to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

Crew fatigue leads to overshoot in 2022

In August2022 a dramatic incident occurred when flightET343 travelling from Khartoum to AddisAbaba remained at its cruise altitude rather than descending towards Addis Ababa. Air-traffic control could not contact the crew, and the Boeing737-800 overshot the runway at 37000feet before the autopilot disconnected. The pilots were woken by the alarm, regained control, circled back and landed safely[1]. Ethiopian Airlines suspended the pilots pending investigation, describing the event as an isolated case[2]. This crew fatigue episode underscored the importance of alertness and fatigue management for short-haul operations.

Smoke in the cockpit triggers a return in 2023

On 13September2023, flightET687, a Boeing787-8 Dreamliner bound for AddisAbaba, lifted off from Delhi. Shortly after take‑off, smoke was detected in the cockpit and cabin. Passengers panicked as the crew declared an emergency and returned to Indira Gandhi International Airport. The flight landed around 3am without injury[3]. More than 240 people were on board[4]. The incident highlighted how cabin smoke can force a swift return, but proper crew response and airport readiness ensured a safe outcome.

Engine problems prompt an early landing in November2023

Another scare took place on 7November2023 when flightET500 from AddisAbaba to Rome Fiumicino experienced engine trouble shortly after departure. The Boeing787‑9 crew reported a suspected engine fire at about flight‑level200 and shut down the affected engine[5]. A priority return was requested and the aircraft landed safely in Addis Ababa about 50minutes after take‑off[6]. A replacement aircraft later completed the journey[7]. This engine problem event demonstrated how modern aircraft systems and well‑trained crews can handle severe technical anomalies.

Snowy runway causes take‑off excursion in December2023

Winter weather caused a dangerous runway excursion on 21December2023 when flightET715 attempted to depart Oslo for Stockholm. The Boeing787‑8 was cleared for take‑off in snow storm conditions but veered off the right side of runway01L just after the take‑off roll[8]. The aircraft travelled about 190m and came to rest 27m off the runway[9]. Passengers remained calm and no injuries were reported[10]. Poor braking action in the snow was suspected[11]. The flight was cancelled and passengers were rebooked, highlighting how weather can turn a departure into an emergency.

Landing gear failure ends domestic flight in January2024

On 18January2024, Ethiopian Airlines flightET106, a Dash‑8 Q400, suffered a flat tyre during its approach to Mekelle. This tyre failure caused the left main landing gear to collapse on touchdown, with the left wing and propeller striking the runway[12]. All passengers escaped without injury, and investigators began probing how a simple landing gear failure could lead to such damage[13]. The incident reinforced the need for rigorous maintenance of regional aircraft operating on Ethiopian domestic routes.

Hydraulic leak disables a cargo jet in April2024

Not all emergencies involve passenger aircraft. On 26April2024, flightET8803, a Boeing787‑8 freighter flying from AddisAbaba to Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lost nose‑wheel steering due to a hydraulic leak during landing. The jet became disabled on Goma’s runway and had to be towed away[14]. Although there were no injuries and no passengers on board, the hydraulic leak episode highlighted the vulnerability of cargo operations and the importance of redundancy in hydraulic systems.

Smoke‑filled cabin forces return in May2024

Domestic passengers faced a frightening situation on 7May2024 when flightET154 from AddisAbaba to Hawassa experienced thick smoke in the cabin. Videos showed oxygen masks deployed as the Q400 turboprop quickly returned to Bole International Airport. All passengers and crew landed safely[15]. Sources told The Reporter that irregular fuel combustion likely caused the smoky cabin[16]. Investigators grounded the aircraft for inspection, and the airline apologised. This cabin smoke case emphasised the importance of maintenance and fuel‑system integrity.

Technical fault forces evacuation in December2024

On 14December2024 a Boeing777‑300ER operating flightET612 from AddisAbaba to Dubai suffered a mid‑air technical problem about half an hour after take‑off. The crew turned back and executed a precautionary landing at Bole International. All passengers were evacuated using emergency slides[17]. Ethiopian Airlines confirmed that the aircraft returned due to a technical issue and said the incident was under investigation[18]. This technical issue underscored the effectiveness of emergency procedures and crew training in evacuating large wide‑body jets.

EgyptAir diversion highlights cross‑carrier risk in January2025

Not every emergency landing involved Ethiopian Airlines. On 8January2025, EgyptAir flightMS852 from AddisAbaba to Cairo was diverted to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The airline explained that the Boeing737‑800 carrying 85 passengers made the unscheduled stop due to technical procedures[19]. Passengers were accommodated on subsequent flights[20]. The technical procedures behind the diversion were not detailed, but the event showed that flights connecting AddisAbaba can face unexpected issues regardless of carrier.

Cabin depressurisation leads to emergency in June2025

One of the most serious incidents occurred on 28June2025 when flightET640 from AddisAbaba to Mumbai lost cabin pressure over the Arabian Sea. The Boeing787 Dreamliner was flying at 33000feet when pressurisation failed, causing oxygen masks to deploy. Pilots executed a rapid descent and landed in Mumbai at 1:42am[21]. Seven passengers needed medical attention and one was hospitalised[22]. The cabin depressurisation triggered an investigation and drew attention to the need for robust maintenance of environmental control systems.

Heavy rain causes runway excursion in July2025

Another domestic emergency occurred on 16July2025 when flightET298, a Dash‑8 Q400, attempted to land at Mekele’s AlulaAbaNega Airport during heavy rain. After two aborted approaches, the aircraft veered off the runway on the third attempt[23]. Reports indicated that forty‑nine passengers were on board and two people were injured[24]. Ethiopian Airlines stated that heavy rain caused the runway excursion[25], and passengers were transported to hospital for checks[26]. This incident underscored how severe weather can challenge smaller regional aircraft.

Categorised summary of emergencies

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