An American Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N396AN performing flight AA-87 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Chicago O’Hare,IL (USA), departed Heathrow’s runway 09R when the crew stopped the climb at about 2500 feet MSL reporting they had needed to shut an engine (CF6) down and returned to Heathrow for a safe landing on runway 09L about 13 minutes after departure, vacated the runway and stopped on the high speed turn off.
A passenger on another flight waiting for departure reported that the captain of his flight announced an American Airlines Boeing 777 had shut down an engine and was returning to Heathrow causing both runways to be shut down for the emergency. It was foggy, the passenger continued, however, the arriving aircraft became visible with light black smoke trailing the left hand engine.
The airline commented the aircraft experienced technical difficulties and returned to Heathrow.
The Aviation Herald