Problem was in a combination of LOCK TABLES on several Aria
tables followed by an ALTER TABLE. After the ALTER TABLE there
was a force close + reopen of the alter table. The close failed
because the table was still part of a transaction.

Fixed by calling extra(HA_EXTRA_PREPARE_FOR_FORCED_CLOSE) as
part of closing the table, which ensures that the table is not
anymore part of the current transaction.