Plane may return to Heathrow following take off

A United Airlines flight that was destined for Newark, New Jersey has landed safely back at Heathrow after a "maintenance issue" forced the aircraft to burn off fuel above the English Channel for several hours.

The flight, carrying 227 passengers and a crew of 13, left the airport at around 11am on its way to Newark, New Jersey, but was forced to divert shortly after take-off.

The Boeing 767-400 aircraft was initially expected to land back at Heathrow at 1.15pm but flight radar websites showed the plane circling at 12,000 feet for a number of hours.

United Airlines confirmed Flight UA28 finally landed safely at Heathrow at shortly before 4pm.

A spokesman for the airline said: "Our maintenance team is currently inspecting the aircraft. Our customer service team at Heathrow is providing assistance to customers and is making arrangements for them to complete their journeys.

"We regret any inconvenience experienced by our customers."

A United Airlines flight that has been circling over the English Channel for several hours has again diverted its course after apparently being scheduled to return to Heathrow at 3pm (GMT).

According to data from the flightradar24 website, United Airlines Flight 28 now appears to be circling above Woking and Leatherhead in Surrey after initially heading towards Heathrow airport from its holding pattern in the English Channel.

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United Airlines has issued this statement after one of its planes was forced to return to Heathrow shortly after take off.

It said: "United Airlines flight UA28 from London Heathrow to New York/Newark on Dec. 17, 2014, a Boeing 767-400 aircraft with 227 customers and a crew of 13 on board, is returning to Heathrow because of a maintenance issue.

"The aircraft is expected to land at Heathrow at 1:15 p.m. local time.

"We regret any inconvenience experienced by our customers."

A New York based plane which left Heathrow is circling the English Channel.

The United Airlines flight left the airport a short time ago but has been circling the English channel burning off fuel.

Officials at Heathrow Airport and United Airlines were unable to immediately comment on what was causing the flight to divert from its planned path.

However, the airline said in a reply to a question on Twitter that it had received no information "that ther is any plan to return to Heathrow".

Flight tracking website Airlive.net suggested on Twitter that the flight was "burning fuel before returning" to Heathrow.