Call for A350 engine maker Rolls-Royce to explain parts problem after Cathay Pacific flights axed

Manufacturer should advise whether other airlines need to inspect fleets and replace any faulty components, experts say

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A Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97, which powers its Airbus A350-1000 model. Photo: Airbus

Published: 8:30am, 4 Sep 2024Updated: 3:11pm, 4 Sep 2024

Rolls-Royce should explain what went wrong with its A350 aircraft engine component that forced Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways to cancel flights and advise other airlines whether they need to inspect their fleets, experts have said.

Their calls came as a source told the Post deformed fuel lines used to transfer fuel to Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A350 fleet were the reason behind the failure of an engine part.

Inspections found 15 of 48 of the airline’s fleet of A350s had engine issues, forcing the carrier to cancel 68 flights this week.

Warren Chim Wing-nin, the deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers’ aircraft division, said fuel pipes in general were not part of an airline’s maintenance programme that needed to be inspected.

“The small fuel manifolds surrounding the engine’s nozzles are not movable and not in contact with other objects,” he said. “It needs the engine manufacturer to explain why the fuel lines were deformed and whether it has something to do with design, manufacturing or other unexpected issues.”

Cathay announced on Monday it had grounded its fleet of A350 aircraft after discovering the “first-of-its-kind problem” with the engine part. Engineers identified the failure after Zurich-bound flight CX383 returned to Hong Kong following take off early on Monday morning.