No Immediate Global Checks Needed for Airbus A350-1000 Amid Fuel Line Concerns

Airlines will likely not require global checks on the Airbus A350-1000, despite an engine issue leading Cathay Pacific to review its fleet. Some airlines have conducted checks, but initial findings suggest the problem may be isolated. A final decision awaits regulators' input, focusing on a pierced fuel line.

A global directive for immediate checks on the Airbus A350-1000 fleet appears unnecessary, following an engine emergency that led Cathay Pacific to scrutinize its planes, sources indicated. Some carriers like Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines had preemptively checked their A350s after Cathay discovered 15 out of its 48 jets required fuel line repairs.

Barring new findings from the examination of a Cathay Pacific A350 part, Airbus and Rolls-Royce are set to mitigate broader safety concerns in briefings to airlines on Thursday. Investigators are focusing on whether a pierced fuel injection nozzle in the Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engine caused a recent fuel leak or was a symptom of another issue. Initial verdict suggests an isolated problem, but regulators have the final say.

Neither EASA nor Airbus have commented formally. The lack of immediate endorsement for broad fleet actions hints at the isolated nature of the issue. Cathay plans to return its Airbus A350s to operation post-inspection, despite numerous flight cancellations. The incident has spurred some airlines to conduct voluntary checks, while others await clarity from Rolls-Royce, who oversees engine maintenance.

(With inputs from agencies.)