Airbus SE and Rolls-Royce Holdings plc are set to provide updates to airlines regarding the consequences of an engine emergency that prompted Cathay Pacific Airways to reassess its A350 fleet. This comes amidst growing demands for transparency within the aviation industry.
Following an incident where a Zurich-bound Cathay Pacific A350-1000 was forced to return to Hong Kong due to an engine issue, investigations revealed a fuel leak caused by a punctured flexible pipe supplying fuel to the Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engine. While the manufacturers are not currently advocating for global inspections, the final decision rests with aviation regulators. Briefings are expected to take place as early as Thursday.
In response to Cathay Pacific’s situation, several airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines, have already implemented precautionary inspections of their entire A350 fleets. However, it is still too early to rule out the possibility of further findings that may necessitate additional actions from other airlines.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is currently evaluating whether to support the decision to avoid recommending fleet-wide inspections, a move that could significantly impact airlines facing ongoing maintenance delays. Cathay Pacific plans to resume full operations of its A350 fleet, including the smaller A350-900 model, by Saturday after completing inspections and repairs on 15 aircraft. This follows the cancellation of numerous flights to accommodate the necessary examinations.
Hong Kong investigators are now focusing on determining whether the hole in the flexible pipe was the primary source of the fuel leak or if it was caused by another underlying issue. The outcome of their investigation will play a crucial role in shaping the response of airlines and aviation regulators worldwide.
