Overview
• Operator: Virgin Atlantic
• Aircraft Model: Airbus A350-1000
• Registration: G-VPOP
• Flight Number: VS-3
• Route: London Heathrow (LHR) → New York JFK (JFK)
• Date: 6 March 2025
• Occupants: Undisclosed (standard commercial flight)
• Casualties: None
• Aircraft Status: Grounded in Manchester
• Investigation: Ongoing, initial assessment by airline and maintenance teams
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Incident Summary
Virgin Atlantic flight VS-3, operating a London Heathrow to New York JFK transatlantic service, suffered a hydraulic system failure while cruising at FL380 over the Atlantic. The failure prompted the crew to turn back as a precaution.
After initially descending to FL290, the aircraft climbed to FL390 and diverted to Manchester Airport (MAN) instead of continuing to Heathrow, landing safely on runway 23L. The landing gear doors remained open, indicating a potential issue with the aircraft’s hydraulic extension systems.
The aircraft remains grounded in Manchester for inspection.
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Sequence of Events
Cruise & System Failure
• Flight Progression
• Aircraft departed London Heathrow on schedule, cruising at FL380 over the North Atlantic.
• Approx. 780 nautical miles southwest of Keflavik and 330nm from Newfoundland, crew detected a hydraulic system failure.
• Decision to Return
• Crew assessed the situation and opted not to proceed to New York JFK.
• Aircraft initially descended to FL290, possibly to reduce system strain.
• Crew later climbed to FL390 before diverting to Manchester, UK.
Approach & Landing in Manchester
• 4 hours and 50 minutes after turning around, the aircraft landed safely in Manchester.
• The landing was at normal speed, but gear doors remained open, indicating a hydraulic extension issue.
• No injuries or further complications were reported.
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Investigation Findings & Initial Analysis
1. Hydraulic System Failure
• The Airbus A350-1000 features three independent hydraulic systems (green, yellow, and blue).
• A failure in one of these systems could have affected:
• Landing gear retraction/extension
• Flight control surfaces
• Braking systems
2. Gear Door Issue Suggests Malfunction in Retraction System
• The aircraft landed with open gear doors, suggesting a hydraulic extension issue or alternate gear deployment.
• The hydraulic backup system may have been used to lower the gear, leaving the doors open.
3. Return to Manchester Instead of Heathrow
• The decision to land in Manchester instead of Heathrow suggests:
• Better operational support available at MAN.
• Lower air traffic congestion, reducing potential risks.
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Potential Causes & Contributing Factors
1. Hydraulic System Leak or Pressure Loss
• A hydraulic fluid leak or system malfunction could have led to loss of pressure in one hydraulic circuit.
• Past incidents with Airbus A350s suggest potential actuator or pump issues.
2. Landing Gear System Malfunction
• The aircraft’s gear doors failing to close suggests a retraction issue linked to the hydraulic failure.
• The crew may have used the alternate gear extension system, which leaves gear doors open after deployment.
3. Precautionary Diversion for Safety & Maintenance Support
• The decision to divert to Manchester instead of Heathrow suggests concerns about landing with an impaired hydraulic system.
• Manchester Airport has extensive maintenance support, making it a better choice for immediate repairs.
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Safety Recommendations & Future Prevention
1. Comprehensive Hydraulic System Inspection
• Detailed examination of all hydraulic circuits, particularly gear extension/retraction systems.
• Check for fluid leaks, pump malfunctions, and actuator failures.
2. Review of Hydraulic Redundancy Procedures
• Airbus A350 systems are highly redundant, but the crew’s response and backup systems should be analyzed.
• Assess whether any new maintenance protocols are needed to prevent recurrence.
3. Crew Training for Alternate Gear Deployment Scenarios
• This event underscores the importance of hydraulic failure response training.
• Simulated landing scenarios with compromised hydraulics should be emphasized in recurrent training.
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Conclusion
This hydraulic failure forced a transatlantic return but was managed effectively by the Virgin Atlantic crew, ensuring a safe landing in Manchester.
While the exact cause of the hydraulic malfunction is still under investigation, gear extension system issues are strongly suspected.
The aircraft remains grounded in Manchester, and further technical evaluations will determine whether the issue was caused by a hydraulic leak, component failure, or software-related malfunction.
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Disclaimer
“This report is based on available information as of 7 March 2025. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the completeness of the details cannot be guaranteed. If you are the rightful owner of any referenced materials and wish them removed, please email takedown@cockpitking.com.”
