A China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-300ER, registration B-2005 and performing flight MU588 from New York to Shanghai, returned to JFK airport after metal wrapping from the aircraft’s wing fell off.
The China Eastern Boeing 777 jet circled many times, to discharge fuel, and landed safely 80 minutes later.
In a statement to Shine Website, Hou Yangfang, a history professor with Fudan University who was on board said: “Several passengers noticed the missing part of the wing shortly after takeoff, They immediately warned the crew”.
He also added there were about 300 passengers on the aircraft. All remained calm and cooperative after the captain said the aircraft had to return to JFK.
Looks like the spoiler number 7, of the left-wing, suffered some damage as well as the adjacent wing panel.
According to Hou, the passengers had to wait for an hour and a half on the aircraft after landing; then another two hours for their luggage to be accommodated.