第一财经·2025-07-21 14:07Core Viewpoint - The article discusses an incident involving China Eastern Airlines' MU735 flight, which had to return to Shanghai due to a maintenance oversight related to the landing gear safety pin not being removed, highlighting potential safety risks in airline operations [1][5][6]. Group 1: Incident Details - On July 20, MU735 flight, operated by an Airbus A350-900, took off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and returned shortly after due to the landing gear safety pin not being removed [1][2]. - The flight circled over the Yangtze River estuary approximately five times before returning to the airport [2]. - The airline confirmed the return was due to "aircraft maintenance reasons," but specific details were not disclosed at the time [5]. Group 2: Safety Protocols - The landing gear safety pin is a critical item in pre-flight checks; failure to remove it can prevent the landing gear from retracting, potentially triggering instrument system alarms [6]. - According to the Airbus A350-900 manual, the appropriate response to such a fault is to reduce weight by dumping fuel before returning to the departure airport [6]. Group 3: Historical Context - A similar incident occurred with Air China in January 2024, where a flight had to return due to the landing gear safety pin not being removed, leading to public scrutiny and an official apology from the airline [7][8].