The A350 fleet of Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific has been temporarily grounded for inspections due to a “first of its type” engine component failure that resulted in the cancellation of a Zurich trip on Monday.
In a statement released on Monday night, Cathay stated that “a number of aircraft will be out of service for several days” as it conducts a fleet-wide inspection of its 48 Airbus A350 aircraft.
It also said that the airline had canceled 24 return flights that were scheduled to depart by the end of Tuesday.
The action was taken in response to the forced return of a Cathay flight to Zurich on Monday. The firm stated that an engine component had failed, but it did not specify which component.
“This component was the first of its type to suffer such failure on any A350 aircraft worldwide,” the airline said.
A precautionary fleet-wide inspection found a number of the same engine components that needed to be replaced, according to Cathay.
Cathay engineering director Keith Brown said the company was liaising with Hong Kong’s aviation authorities as well as the aircraft and engine manufacturers.
“Each aircraft is undergoing a rigorous inspection,” Brown said, according to the statement.
“Upon completion, the aircraft cleared for operation will return to service, while those identified with technical issues will undergo further repair and maintenance work.”
Cathay is among the largest operators worldwide of the A350 jet.
In an interview with Bloomberg News, engine maker Rolls-Royce stated that it was “committed to working closely with the airline, aircraft manufacturer, and the relevant authorities to support their investigation into this incident”.
On Monday, Rolls-Royce’s stock fell 6.47 percent in London.
This year, the engine manufacturer said that it was upgrading its range of commercial aviation engines with investments totaling more than o1 billion ($1.3 billion).
Tim Clark, the CEO of Emirates, had worries in November of last year over the A350 engines’ lifetime and durability.
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