Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, has canceled dozens of flights to conduct inspections on its entire Airbus A350 fleet after finding engine problems affecting the plane. The airline identified an engine component failure on flight CX383 from Hong Kong to Zurich, leading to the need to replace a number of the same engine components on its fleet. Spare parts have been secured, and repair work is currently underway, resulting in the cancellation of 24 flights over two days pending inspection and repair work. The nature of the engine issue was not detailed, but Reuters reported it involved a problem with a fuel nozzle that directs fuel inside the engine.
The incident affecting the A350 comes at a time when rival Boeing has faced serious and high-profile problems with its aircraft. Boeing has been embroiled in a safety crisis following a mid-air blowout of one of its door plugs on a 737 Max flight earlier this year. Cathay has contacted both the aircraft manufacturer and the engine maker, Rolls-Royce, about the engine problems. Airbus, the plane maker, stated that the A350 family uses two Trent XWB turbofan engine models from Rolls-Royce. Rolls-Royce confirmed that flight CX383 was powered by a Trent XWB-97 engine and expressed its commitment to supporting the investigation into the incident.
Flight tracking data showed that CX383 took off from Hong Kong International Airport but had to divert back to the city due to the engine issue. The engine issue was quickly identified, leading to the safe landing of the aircraft within 75 minutes. Emirates president Tim Clark criticized the Trent engine at the Dubai Airshow in November, citing durability issues and high servicing prices as reasons for not considering a deal to buy A350-1000 jets. Rolls-Royce denied any defect in the engine, stating that it was working on improving the Trent XWB-97 engines.
In addition to the engine problems faced by Cathay Pacific, Boeing has also encountered challenges with its aircraft. The long-delayed 777X aircraft faced issues during testing, leading Boeing to pause operations and identify a component that did not perform as designed. The 777X, touted as the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, was scheduled to enter service four years ago but has faced delays and cost overruns, with a revised launch date of 2025. The incident with the 777X added to Boeing’s struggles with reputation and quality following the 737 Max safety crisis.
The aviation industry has been navigating various challenges with engine problems and delays in aircraft development. Both Cathay Pacific and Boeing have faced setbacks due to engine issues with their respective aircraft. The incidents highlight the importance of thorough inspections, maintenance, and collaboration between airlines, manufacturers, and regulators to ensure the safety and reliability of commercial flights. As investigations into these issues continue, measures will be taken to address any concerns and maintain high standards of safety and quality in the aviation sector.
