Hong Kong probe finds Cathay Airbus defect could cause 'extensive' damage / Photo: Anthony WALLACE - AFP
-
Below Deck alumnus João Franco and brother arrested after fatal Turkey fight
-
Ole Miss inquiry expands after video and monkey-noise allegations
-
Thousands of Urban Homes Left Without High-Speed Internet Due to Broadband Blackspots
-
General Hospital actor Randall England dies at 75
-
Bunnie XO artwork taken down from Jelly Roll’s Nashville bar
-
London museum removes Russell Brand hair exhibit after rape conviction
-
Arlington sentinel rebukes Pete Hegseth entourage for laughter near memorial
-
Yella Beezy sentenced to life for arranging rapper Mo3’s murder
-
Kylie Jenner employee describes closet ordeal and pepper-spray incident
-
Authorities to identify Montauk Mary and five other Long Island cold-case victims
-
Davante Adams injury deepens Los Angeles Rams receiver shortage
-
Barbie sequel negotiations stall over reported $25 million pay packages
-
João Franco’s earlier post draws attention after arrest over fatal Turkey brawl
-
Bath & Body Works launches buy-one-get-one-free candle offer
-
Alberta Launches $5M Fund for Women’s Neurology Research to Address Gender Gaps
-
Itlu Arjuna receives U/A certificate ahead of theatrical release
-
Dhananjaya de Silva guides Sri Lanka to 221-4 against Pakistan
-
Niraj Kumar earns Los Angeles Olympic quota with 50m rifle bronze
-
Delhi gold loses Rs 800 while silver falls Rs 5,000
-
India extends micro-credit guarantee plan for five years
-
Madlanga Commission Deadline Extended to 2027 Amid Calls for Structural Justice Reform
-
Pradeep Antony, Smeha Manimegalai portray secret spouses in Mr & Mrs Office
-
Zelenskyy arrives in Dublin for meetings on Ukraine and peace efforts
-
Woman barred from every Greggs outlet after series of offences
-
Jury hears social-media image helped identify teen in Scarlett Faulkner case
-
Ketchup packets link suspect to break-in at Eddie Rocket’s restaurant
-
American Airlines passenger falls ill and vomits on three travellers
-
Spain's General Strike Links Housing Crisis to Lost Purchasing Power
-
Euro-Area Inflation Reaches 4% as Energy Prices Jump
-
China's Factory Inflation Accelerates While Consumer Demand Stays Weak
-
US Adds 165,000 Jobs as Unemployment Falls to 4.1%
-
Bank of England Raises Interest Rate to 4% as Energy Risks Intensify
-
Energy Costs Push OECD Inflation Up to 4.5%
-
OPEC Says Oil Output Is Near Prewar Levels Despite Shipping Disruptions
-
China's Trade Surplus Passes $1 Trillion as Technology Exports Surge
-
China's Singles' Day Exposes Persistent Consumer Caution
-
US Inflation Broadens as Fed Officials Consider Faster Rate Hikes
-
Irish police prepare for further hoax bomb threats after hundreds of schools targeted
-
Korea, Singapore and New Zealand Advance Green Trade Pact Talks
-
RBA Inflation Target Origins: Why Australia Chose a Range Over Zero
-
Ireland and Ukraine consider drone cooperation memorandum after Dublin talks
-
Sister recounts fatal machete attack as Irish murder trial continues
-
Georgia refrigeration company sues EPA after five-year HFC reprieve
-
HoloCoder technology promises brighter smartphone images and 3D depth data
-
EU proposes broad consumer safeguards for apps, subscriptions and ticketing
-
Early Black Friday Walking Pad Deals: Urevo and WalkingPad Discounts
-
Nvidia faces scrutiny over alleged Chinese intelligence link to Jensen Huang
-
Radical Numerics develops offline AI tool to detect engineered pathogens
-
Chennai orders inquiry after dogs die at shelter; two veterinarians face action
Hong Kong probe finds Cathay Airbus defect could cause 'extensive' damage
The engine defect in the Airbus A350 plane that led to the cancellation of dozens of Cathay Pacific flights in early September could have escalated into "extensive damage", according to a Hong Kong probe released Thursday.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific briefly grounded its fleet of A350s for inspections and repairs after a Zurich-bound plane was forced to turn back to Hong Kong on September 2.
The inspection found that components on 15 of the 48-plane fleet of A350s, powered by engines from the British manufacturer Rolls-Royce, had to be replaced.
On Thursday, investigators in the city said a post-flight examination found a "discernible hole in the (fuel) hose", "black soot observed on the aft section of the core engine, indicating signs of a fire" as well as burn marks.
"If not promptly detected and addressed, this situation... could escalate into a more serious engine fire, potentially causing extensive damage to the aircraft," said the report released by the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA).
The preliminary report "should be regarded as tentative", a spokesperson for the authority said Thursday.
The AAIA also made a recommendation to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to require Rolls-Royce to "develop continuing airworthiness information, including but not limited to, inspection requirements of the secondary fuel manifold hoses" of the engines in question.
Cathay's incident prompted other airlines in Asia to carry out similar checks on their A350-900 and A350-1000 models, which are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 and XWB-97 engines, respectively.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency also mandated inspections on A350-1000s.
There are 86 such planes in service worldwide, according to the EASA.
Qatar Airways is the biggest operator of the 1000 version, with 24 in its fleet, followed by Cathay Pacific and British Airways, which both operate 18.
Airbus and Rolls-Royce earlier said they are cooperating with Cathay, but could not comment further pending the investigation.
J.Williams--AMWN