A Thai Airways flight dumped fuel in the English Channel and had to turn back to Heathrow just moments after take-off when the pilot was told that the cargo hold door was open.

The flight left London at 9:35pm on Wednesday (February 13) but during the ascent, a warning light appeared showing that the cargo hold door was not shut securely.

Flight radars show how the concerned captain circled several above the English Channel while burning and dumping fuel before bringing the Boeing 777-300ER back to Heathrow to land.

Footage shows the plane as it lands back at Heathrow, trailing condensation above the rooftops.

There were 344 passengers onboard and 20 crew who were taken off the flight TG917 while engineers battled to identify the problem.

Airline officials eventually found that the door was secure but there was a problem with the warning light system.

Flight Lieutenant Pratana Patanasiri, Vice President Aviation Safety, Security and Standards Department, said that the plane was at 8000 feet before the incident when the light appeared.

He said: ‘’The sensor for the cargo hold door look system showed an irregularity.

‘’Flight engineers took about two hours to check the whole aircraft. They found the notification light issue, there were no hazardous irregularities.

'The flight departed again at 00.32 yesterday (February 14). All crews arrived in Bangkok safely on the same day at 18.14, local time.'

Passengers followed the instructions and waited at the gate while engineers and maintenance staff checked the plane and it was refuelled.

A Thai Airways flight dumped fuel in the English Channel and turn back to Heathrow moments after take-off when the pilot was told that a door was OPEN.

The flight left London at 9:35pm on Wednesday (13/02) but during the ascent, a warning light appeared showing that the cargo hold door was not shut securely.

Flight radars show how the concerned captain circled several above the English Channel while burning and dumping fuel before bringing the Boeing 777-300ER back to Heathrow to land.

Footage shows the plane as it lands back at Heathrow, trailing condensation above the rooftops. There were 344 passengers onboard and 20 crew who were taken off the flight TG917 while engineers battled to identify the problem.

Airline officials eventually found that the door was secure but there was a problem with the warning light system.

Flight Lieutenant Pratana Patanasiri, Vice President Aviation Safety, Security and Standards Department, said that the plane was at 8000 feet before the incident when the light appeared.

He said: ‘’The sensor for the cargo hold door look system showed an irregularity.

‘’Flight engineers took about two hours to check the whole aircraft. They found the notification light issue, there were no hazardous irregularities.

'The flight departed again at 00.32 yesterday (14/02). All crews arrived in Bangkok safely on the same day at 18.14, local time.'

Passengers followed the instructions and waited at the gate while engineers and maintenance staff checked the plane and it was refuelled.