Passengers Endure 14-Hour Flight to Nowhere After Plane Turns Back Over Arctic

All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo to Frankfurt diverted due to low engine oil level

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Passengers on an All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo to Frankfurt experienced a grueling 14-hour journey after their plane turned around over the Arctic Ocean and returned to Tokyo due to a low engine oil level. The Boeing 787 departed Tokyo around 11 a.m. but had to divert back to the Japanese capital around 7 hours into the flight, landing at Haneda Airport around 1 a.m. the next day.

Why it matters

Flights to nowhere, where planes take off and land at the same airport without reaching their destination, have become more common in recent years due to factors like airspace closures and mechanical issues. These extended journeys can be extremely frustrating for passengers and raise questions about airline maintenance and operations.

The details

The All Nippon Airways flight was forced to turn around over the Arctic Ocean due to a low engine oil level, a mechanical issue that required the plane to return to its main hub in Tokyo for maintenance and repairs. The airline said the safety of passengers and crew was the top priority, and they sincerely apologized for the extensive delay.

  • The flight departed Tokyo around 11 a.m.
  • The plane turned around over the Arctic Ocean around 7 hours into the journey.
  • The flight landed back at Haneda Airport in Tokyo around 1 a.m. the next day.

The players

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

A major Japanese airline and one of the largest in Asia.

Boeing 787

The aircraft model used for the flight, a wide-body jet airliner.

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What’s next

The airline said the flight departed again the next morning with a new aircraft and crew, and is expected to land in Frankfurt around 1 p.m. local time, about 20 hours later than originally scheduled.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the frustrations passengers can face when mechanical issues or other factors force planes to turn around mid-flight, resulting in extended journeys that never reach their intended destination. It underscores the importance of airline maintenance and operations to ensure reliable and timely service for travelers.