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Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flagship airline, recently underwent a comprehensive inspection of its entire Airbus A350 fleet after identifying engine faults that affected one of its jets. The airline reported engine component failure on flight CX383 from Hong Kong to Zurich, prompting the aircraft to return to Hong Kong.
The airline stated that this engine component failure was the first of its kind globally on any A350 aircraft. Following a thorough check of its 48-plane fleet, Cathay Pacific discovered a number of engine components that needed replacement. It did not provide specific details about the engine issue but mentioned that 15 planes required engine component repairs by Tuesday afternoon. Three of these planes had already been rectified, and all affected aircraft were expected to resume flights by Saturday.
Due to the inspection and repair work, Cathay Pacific canceled 24 flights on Monday and Tuesday. The airline announced the cancellation of 10 regional return flights for Wednesday but stated that long-haul flights would continue as scheduled.
The specific engine issue was later reported to involve a malfunctioning gasoline nozzle responsible for distributing fuel into the engine. Cathay has been in contact with the aircraft manufacturer, Rolls-Royce, and relevant aviation regulators regarding this issue. The Airbus A350 fleet is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB turbofan engines.
Flight CX383, which was powered by a Trent XWB-97 engine, experienced the engine problem shortly after takeoff from Hong Kong International Airport. The plane was forced to return to Hong Kong after performing loops around the city. Rolls-Royce expressed its commitment to cooperate with the airline, aircraft manufacturer, and authorities to investigate the incident.
A prominent figure in the aviation industry, Shukor Yusof of Endau Analytics, emphasized that the A350 is a safe aircraft overall. However, he pointed out that logistical delays related to components, parts, and engine materials could pose challenges for airlines. Yusof noted that other airlines may also be affected by similar issues to varying degrees due to factors like labor shortages.
In light of recent incidents involving Boeing aircraft, such as the 737 Max and 777X, the aviation industry has been under increased scrutiny for safety concerns. Rolls-Royce faced criticism from Emirates president Tim Clark regarding engine durability and service costs for the A350-1000 aircraft. The manufacturer disputed claims of engine problems and stated that it was working on upgrades to address any issues.
Boeing, another major player in the industry, encountered setbacks with its 777X aircraft testing due to structural issues. After discovering problems during test flights, Boeing had to halt testing and address the component that was not functioning as intended. The 777X, touted as the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, has faced multiple delays in its development timeline and budget constraints.
Despite these challenges, Cathay Pacific and other airlines are committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of their fleets. The aviation industry continues to prioritize passenger safety and operational efficiency in light of ongoing developments and advancements in aircraft technology.
