Why, when a plane has landing-gear problems, do they circle the departure

[eyesroll]

airport to burn fuel, instead of going to the destination airport and burning the fuel en route?

I mean, if you have to do an emergency landing either way, why not do it where the passengers are trying to go in the first place?

[RetroLounge]

1. Yeah, at least the next of kin will be closer to them...

RL

[seemunkee]

2. They already have one mechanical problem?

What if there is another and they are not near an airport?

[KitchenWitch]

3. I would guess it depends upon both the departure and arrival airports

Remember last month, that flight that took off from Ontario airport in California...they circled and landed at LAX because LAX has a longer runway and better facilities for such emergencies.