[Ken522]

Must’ve been quite a mechanical issue for the aircraft to fly from its point of origin to New York airspace and then turn around and fly for 3 more hours ...

[mabarker1]

Well since we don't have any information on what mechanical issues they were having. So while we wait..

[SC Swamp Fox]

I’m guessing a problem that wasn’t necessarily an emergency, but concerning enough to not to venture out over the Atlantic where a divert field isn’t available.

[Zuriel]

I’m guessing that the matter wasn’t urgent enough, (such as an engine on fire), to require landing immediately. Therefore they burn off a few tons of fuel to have a more normal landing weight.

[ladyjane]

It didn’t have to be a big mechanical issue for them to turn back to Charlotte, and not go Raleigh-Durham. Charlotte is a hub and that’s where they do repairs, not RDU.

[TexasGator]

“Must’ve been quite a mechanical issue for the aircraft to fly from its point of origin to New York airspace and then turn around and fly for 3 more hours ...”

If it had been a big deal they would not have gone back to NC.