Cathay Pacific Airways has grounded its entire Airbus A350 fleet for inspections after an engine component failure on a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich. The issue, identified during flight CX383, prompted the airline to cancel 24 flights and conduct a thorough check of its 48 A350 aircraft.
The problem, reportedly linked to a fuel nozzle in the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine, marks the first such failure on any A350 worldwide. Cathay secured spare parts for necessary repairs and is working closely with Rolls-Royce, Airbus, and regulators to address the issue.
The incident has drawn comparisons to recent issues faced by Boeing, highlighting ongoing challenges in the aviation industry. Rolls-Royce, whose shares fell over 6% following the news, confirmed its commitment to supporting the investigation.
Flight CX383, normally a 13-hour journey, returned safely to Hong Kong about 75 minutes after takeoff, having detected the issue early. The A350-1000, the larger model in the A350 family, was involved in the incident. Cathay, one of the largest A350 operators, is coordinating with authorities to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.
This development follows recent scrutiny of Rolls-Royce's Trent engines, with previous concerns raised by Emirates regarding their durability. Rolls-Royce has since been working on improvements, though this latest incident underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining reliability in long-haul aircraft engines.
