An Asiana Airlines Boeing 747 freighter aircraft departing San Francisco for Seoul, South Korea was forced to abort the flight and make a return to San Francisco after a report that sparks had been sighted emitting from the aircraft after takeoff on January 24.
Asiana Airlines flight OZ285, a Boeing 747-400 freighter operating from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) had just departed the airport when air traffic control informed that the flight of a report from an airport ground services vehicle.
Asiana Airlines OZ285 San Francisco – Seoul
An observer on the ground and reported seeing sparks and flames issuing from one of the aircraft engines and hearing excessive noise levels.
Return to San Francisco (SFO)
On receiving the advice, flight crew discontinued the climb out below 10,000 feet and entered a holding procedure along the coast to the north-west of San Francisco.
The aircraft subsequently initiated a return to SFO where it landed without further incident just over an hour from its initial departure.
Flight data shows that the aircraft made an initial departure from SFO at 0321 local time on January 24; establishing on the outbound track and climbing to 8000 feet.
Upon receiving the advice from air traffic control, the flight crew terminated the climb and maintained 8000 feet in a holding pattern, presumably to dump fuel for a precautionary return to SFO.
The aircraft operating flight OZ285 for Seoul Incheon was a Boeing 747-400 freighter registered HL7420; a 28-year old widebody freighter aircraft belonging to the South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines.
The flight did not declare a formal emergency and conducted the precautionary return under normal operating procedures.
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