Oman Air Boeing returns due to flap issue; investigation underway

The airline stated to the Times of Oman: "[The flight] experienced a technical issue shortly after take-off and in accordance with safety and operational protocols, had to return to Muscat International Airport...Our guests were disembarked and taken back to the terminal. All guests were accommodated on a replacement flight shortly after."

Following this event, Oman Air arranged for another Boeing 737 MAX 8 as a substitute for the Bangkok-bound flight. This replacement departed Muscat at 14:35 and arrived in Bangkok at 23:34, resulting in nearly six hours of delay.

The disruption also affected the return leg of flight WY-816 from Bangkok to Muscat. It normally departs at 19:10 but was delayed until early June 1st morning due to these issues.

Flap-related problems can occur due to electrical faults or mechanical failures within the flap drive system. Such issues can impact climb performance and approach speeds, prompting crews often to adjust profiles or return as precautions.

There have been other recent incidents involving flap malfunctions across various airlines globally.