A Brussels Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration OO-SFM performing flight SN-255 from Brussels (Belgium) to Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), was climbing out of Brussels’ runway 07R when the crew stopped the climb at FL060 being unable to fully retract the flaps.

The aircraft entered a hold to burn off fuel, climbed to FL080 and FL100 always maintaining between 180 and 200 knots over ground, and returned to Brussels for a safe landing on runway 25R at a slightly higher than normal speed about 4:10 hours after departure.

A replacement Airbus A330-200 registration OO-SFU is estimated to reach Ouagadougou with a delay of about 8 hours.