Europe's aviation safety regulator, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), has issued a directive requiring airlines to conduct one-time inspections of fuel hoses on specific Airbus A350 aircraft. The decision follows an in-flight engine fire aboard a Cathay Pacific A350-1000 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines on September 1, 2023. The fire occurred shortly after the plane took off from Hong Kong, bound for Zurich.
In response to the incident, Cathay Pacific inspected the engines on its 48 Airbus A350s, identifying 15 aircraft requiring fuel line replacements. The airline aims to complete the repairs by September 7, having already canceled 90 flights between September 2 and 7. "This was a significant situation for Cathay to manage as the engine-component failure was the first of its type to occur on any A350 aircraft anywhere in the world," said Alex McGowan, Cathay Pacific's chief operations and service delivery officer.
The EASA directive specifically applies to the A350-1000 model powered by Rolls-Royce's XWB-97 engine. A total of 86 aircraft worldwide are affected, and inspections must be completed within three to 30 days, depending on each engine's history.
Rolls-Royce expressed its commitment to collaborating with airlines, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities to ensure safety. Meanwhile, other carriers have taken precautionary measures. Singapore Airlines, with a fleet of 64 Airbus A350s powered by a different variant, the XWB-84 engine, began its own inspections without altering its flight schedule. Japan Airlines also inspected its five A350-1000s and is examining its A350-900 fleet, reporting no defects thus far.
In the U.S., Delta Air Lines, the sole A350 operator with 30 A350-900s powered by XWB-84 engines, is not subject to the EASA directive. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed no inspection requirements are necessary for Delta, as the airline does not operate the XWB-97 engine model. Delta assured its commitment to maintaining high safety and operational standards.
The aviation industry is closely monitoring the situation as inspections proceed, ensuring that all A350 aircraft remain safe for continued operation.
