Cathay Pacific Grounds Airbus A350 Fleet for Inspections After "First of its Kind" Engine Failure

• Sep 03, 2024

Hong Kong's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, has temporarily grounded its Airbus A350 fleet for urgent inspections after a rare engine component failure forced a flight to Zurich to turn back. The airline is conducting a comprehensive review of all 48 A350 aircraft in its fleet, with several planes expected to remain grounded for several days as a result.

This precautionary measure follows Monday's incident, when a flight en route to Zurich was forced to return to Hong Kong. Cathay identified a failure in a critical engine component, describing it as "the first of its type to suffer such failure on any A350 aircraft globally." The airline has not disclosed which specific component malfunctioned but has taken swift action to ensure passenger safety.

As part of the inspections, Cathay Pacific has already cancelled 24 round-trip flights, affecting routes up until the end of Tuesday, including eight of its nine daily flights from Hong Kong to Singapore. These disruptions come as the airline aims to maintain a thorough safety check on its fleet.

Cathay’s engineering director, Keith Brown, reassured the public that the company is working closely with aviation authorities in Hong Kong, as well as the aircraft and engine manufacturers, to resolve the issue. He stated, "Every aircraft is undergoing detailed inspections. Those cleared will return to service, while others will undergo further repair and maintenance if necessary."

The A350's engines are supplied by Rolls-Royce, which has pledged to cooperate with Cathay and the relevant authorities during the investigation. The British engine manufacturer, which has invested heavily in upgrading its commercial aircraft engines, remains committed to ensuring safety. Rolls-Royce faced scrutiny last year when Emirates' CEO raised concerns about the longevity of the A350 engines, which the company has robustly defended.

Despite this setback, Cathay Pacific recently announced it is on track to return to pre-pandemic passenger levels by early next year. However, the grounding of its A350 fleet poses a temporary challenge to these recovery plans and could have wider repercussions for both the A350 program and global aviation.

This situation highlights the complexities of managing large fleets of sophisticated aircraft and underscores the importance of stringent safety protocols in the aviation industry.

Source: AFP