Cathay Pacific has launched a comprehensive inspection of its entire Airbus A350 fleet following the discovery of an engine component failure during a long-haul flight.
The Hong Kong-based airline has canceled dozens of flights and grounded several aircraft as it works to address the issue.
The problem came to light on Monday when Cathay Pacific flight CX383, en route from Hong Kong to Zurich, experienced an engine component failure shortly after takeoff.
The aircraft, an Airbus A350-1000 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, returned to Hong Kong International Airport after circling and dumping fuel over the sea for about 30 minutes.
“This component was the first of its type to suffer such failure on any A350 aircraft worldwide,” Cathay Pacific said in a statement to CNN. The airline did not provide specific details about the nature of the component failure.
Following the incident, Cathay Pacific initiated inspections of its entire A350 fleet, comprising 48 aircraft. The carrier reported that it has “identified a number of the same engine components that need to be replaced” across multiple planes.
As a precautionary measure, Cathay Pacific has canceled 24 return flights through Tuesday, affecting operations at Hong Kong Airport and several other destinations including Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei, and Sydney.
The airline warned that some aircraft would be out of service for several days while inspections and repairs are carried out.
Keith Brown, Cathay Pacific’s director of engineering, stated in a The New York Times report that aircraft cleared after inspection would return to service, while those with technical issues would undergo repairs.
The incident has raised concerns in the aviation industry, with shares of Rolls-Royce, the sole engine provider for the Airbus A350 family, falling sharply following the news, according to Reuters.
Rolls-Royce acknowledged the incident and expressed commitment to working closely with Cathay Pacific, Airbus, and investigating authorities.
Airbus, the manufacturer of the A350, referred questions to the airline and engine maker. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it would monitor the investigation results before deciding on any fleet-wide action.
Industry experts note that while such problems are rare, any widespread inspections could be disruptive to airlines. The Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority has reportedly launched an investigation into the incident.
As Cathay Pacific continues its fleet-wide inspections and repairs, passengers are advised to check their flight status and stay informed about potential disruptions to their travel plans.
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