Cathay Pacific Grounds Flights for Airbus A350 Fleet Inspections

Cathay Pacific Airways has conducted inspections on its Airbus A350 fleet following an engine component failure on a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich. The incident involved a Rolls-Royce engine component and resulted in 34 flight cancellations. Other airlines with similar aircraft are also taking precautionary measures.

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways has carried out inspections on its entire Airbus A350 fleet after an in-flight engine component failure occurred on a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich. The component in question is manufactured by British firm Rolls-Royce.

Shortly after take-off on flight CX383 to Zurich, the five-year-old A350-1000 aircraft experienced issues, forcing it to circle twice and dump fuel over the sea before safely returning to Hong Kong approximately 75 minutes later. Cathay Pacific identified the problem as an engine component failure upon the plane's return.

A source informed Reuters that the failure involved a fuel nozzle inside the Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engine. Cathay Pacific, which operates 18 A350-1000 planes, found 15 aircraft with similar components requiring replacement, three of which have already undergone repairs. The airline has canceled 34 round-trip flights pending the completion of these replacements.

Globally, other airlines using A350 aircraft, such as Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines, are also inspecting their fleets as a precaution, although their flights have not been impacted. Rolls-Royce expressed its commitment to cooperating with Cathay Pacific and relevant authorities in the ongoing investigation.

(With inputs from agencies.)