Sky Troubles: Cathay Pacific Grounds A350s for Engine Inspection

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One of the major global long-haul airline operators, Cathay Pacific, recently faced engine issues on one of its Airbus A350 aircraft. As a result, the airline initiated an extensive inspection of its entire A350 fleet, which led to the delay of numerous flights and cancellations.

The incident in question occurred on flight CX383 from Hong Kong to Zurich, where an engine component failure forced the aircraft to return to Hong Kong. While such issues are not uncommon in the aviation industry, Cathay Pacific highlighted that this particular failure was the first of its kind on any A350 worldwide.

In response to this engine fault, Cathay Pacific conducted a thorough examination of its 48-plane fleet, which revealed that several aircraft had similar engine components that needed immediate replacement. By Tuesday afternoon, the airline had identified 15 planes requiring repairs, with three already resolved. Cathay Pacific assured that all affected planes would be back in operation by Saturday.

In order to address the engine issues, Cathay Pacific canceled 24 flights on Monday and Tuesday for inspection and repair purposes. An additional 10 regional return flights were canceled on Wednesday, while long-haul flights remained unaffected. While the exact nature of the engine problem was not disclosed, reports suggested that a gasoline nozzle responsible for fuel distribution malfunctioned.

The manufacturer of the engine components, Rolls-Royce, was promptly informed by Cathay Pacific about the issue. The A350 family is equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB turbofan engines, and Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, referred all queries regarding the engine problem to Rolls-Royce. Following the incident, Rolls-Royce expressed its commitment to collaborating with relevant authorities and stakeholders to investigate the matter.

Despite the engine issues, aviation expert Shukor Yusof emphasized that the A350 aircraft is generally considered safe. However, logistical challenges related to sourcing components, parts, and engine materials could lead to delays in resolving such issues. He pointed out that other airlines may face similar problems to varying degrees due to factors like labor shortages.

Flight CX383’s experience with the engine problem was captured by Flightradar24, which showed the aircraft diverting back to Hong Kong after encountering the issue mid-flight. In the midst of these engine concerns, Boeing faced its own challenges, including halting testing of the 777X aircraft due to structural issues.

Emirates President Tim Clark criticized Rolls-Royce’s Trent engine during the Dubai Airshow, citing concerns about engine reliability and service costs. Rolls-Royce, however, defended the engines and stated that they were being upgraded to address any potential issues. Boeing, on the other hand, had to replace a faulty component on its 777X aircraft after discovering structural issues during testing.

The Boeing 777X, touted as the world’s most efficient twin-engine jet, has faced significant delays and budget overruns since its inception. Originally scheduled to enter service four years ago, the aircraft’s delivery timeline has been pushed back to 2025. The numerous setbacks and challenges faced by both Boeing and Rolls-Royce highlight the complexities and intricacies of the aviation industry.

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